Broadband light generation by noncollinear parametric downconversion

Broadband light generation is demonstrated by noncollinear spontaneous parametric downconversion with a cw pump laser. By use of a suitable noncollinear phase-matching geometry and a tightly focused pump beam, downconverted signals that feature a bell-shaped spectral distribution with a bandwidth approaching 200 nm are obtained. As an application of the generated broadband light, submicrometer axial resolution in an optical coherence tomography scheme is demonstrated; a free-space resolution down to 0.8 microm was achieved.