Abstract

We exploit both the high nonlinearity and the holey structure of microstructured fibers to combine a broadband light source and a gas cell in a single microstructured fiber. A broadband supercontinuum is formed by launching nanosecond pulses from a compact, Q-switched Nd:YAG laser into a microstructured fiber filled with acetylene. This continuum is self-referenced to the acetylene lines in the $1500\mathrm{nm}$ region. The performance of different index-guiding narrow-core microstructured fibers as nonlinear and host media is evaluated. The concept offers many possibilities and can be applied to various gases absorbing at different wavelengths.

© 2005 Optical Society of America