Generation of a broadband continuum with high spectral coherence in tapered single-mode optical fibers

By means of a delayed pulsed method, we carry out an experimental study of the mutual spectral coherence of supercontinuum trains generated through a tapered fiber. We observe a strong dependence of the spectral coherence on the input wavelength. Analysis of the interferograms shows that this is related to the robustness of different order soliton fission processes. A broadband continuum with 20dB wavelength from 500nm similar to 1300nm with high coherence (mean visibility g(12)similar to0.7) is obtained. (C) 2004 Optical Society of America.