1.5-2.0-/spl mu/m multiwatt continuum generation in dispersion-shifted fiber by use of high-power continuous-wave fiber source

We demonstrated the generation of multiwatt single-mode infrared continuum by using highly nonlinear dispersion-shifted optical fiber pumped by a continuous-wave erbium fiber source. A smooth 1000-nm at -20-dB-wide continuum is demonstrated with a remarkable 450-nm full-width at half-maximum bandwidth. A maximum spectral power density of 4.5 mW/nm is obtained.