CPC G02B 6/03694 (2013.01) [C03B 37/0279 (2013.01); C03B 37/02781 (2013.01); C03B 37/10 (2013.01); C03C 13/045 (2013.01); C03C 13/046 (2013.01); C03C 25/1061 (2018.01); C03C 25/1062 (2018.01); C03C 25/1068 (2018.01); C03C 25/607 (2013.01); G02B 6/02347 (2013.01); G02B 6/02357 (2013.01); G02B 6/02361 (2013.01); G02B 6/02395 (2013.01); G02B 6/14 (2013.01); G02F 1/365 (2013.01); C03B 2201/02 (2013.01); C03B 2201/12 (2013.01); C03B 2201/21 (2013.01); C03B 2201/22 (2013.01); C03B 2203/14 (2013.01); C03B 2203/23 (2013.01); C03B 2203/42 (2013.01); C03C 2201/02 (2013.01); C03C 2201/21 (2013.01); C03C 2201/22 (2013.01); G02B 6/02366 (2013.01); G02F 1/3528 (2021.01)] | 20 Claims |
1. A supercontinuum light source comprising a microstructured optical fiber (MSF) and a pump source arranged to feed pump pulses to a launching end of said MSF, said MSF comprising a solid core extending along the length of a longitudinal axis and a cladding region surrounding the core, wherein at least the cladding region comprises a plurality of microstructures in the form of inclusions extending along the longitudinal axis of the MSF in at least a microstructured length section, wherein the MSF in at least a degradation resistant length section of said microstructured length section comprises hydrogen and/or deuterium and comprises a coating surrounding the cladding region, wherein the coating is hermetic for said hydrogen and/or deuterium at a temperature below Th such that diffusion of hydrogen and/or deuterium through the hermetic coating of the MSF is less than 1% per day, wherein Th is at least about 50° C.
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