Flat-top dual-pump supercontinuum laser in the NIR-IIc region and its applications in spectroscopic analysis of diverse polymers

Supercontinuum (SC) lasers have become integral to infrared spectroscopy and spectral microscopy imaging, owing to their broad spectral coverage and high brightness. Despite these advantages, achieving spectral flatness is essential while concentrating energy within the target wavelength range. This ensures enhanced detection sensitivity, minimizes scattering and extraneous effects, and is critical for improving measurement accuracy in quantitative analyses. In this study, we present a nanosecond supercontinuum laser tailored for the near-infrared-IIc (NIR-IIc) spectral region, generated via a dual-pump optical parametric amplifier. The proposed SC laser exhibits a spectral flatness of ±1 dB across the 1650-2000 nm range, with a total output power of 200 mW, a repetition rate of 180 kHz, and pulse durations of approximately 10 nanoseconds, making it well-suited for spectroscopy and microscopic imaging within the NIR-IIc window. To validate its practical applicability, we employed this optical source to acquire spectra of various chemical compounds and polymers, demonstrating its effectiveness for diverse analytical and imaging applications.