Supercontinuum generation in standard single-mode fiber pumped by a nanosecond-pulse laser

We have experimentally investigated supercontinuum generation in a conventional single-mode fiber pumped with a nanosecond pulse source. The experimental results show that, when pump power increases, the spectral flatness is improved obviously and the spectral broadening only occurs in a red-shifted radiation rather than a blue-shifted radiation. A supercontinuum source is experimentally reported with a flatness of 4.7 dB over 180 nm (ranging from 1555 to >1735 nm) at pump power P _R = 5 W and is predicted to have the flatness of less than 1 dB at P _R > 8 W. The cascade of stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) together with soliton fission plays the key roles in supercontinuum generation.