Femtosecond spectroscopy using broadband soliton emission from fibers

We report the generation of pulses with τ > 100-fs duration distributed between 1.6 and 1.85 μm in a fiber which is pumped in the region of anomalous group velocity dispersion. Similar pulses and spectra were obtained by other groups1,2 comprising a spectral range of 1.3-1.85 μm. We have characterized this pulse spectrum to determine its usefulness for time-resolved spectroscopy. Furthermore, we have used this pulse source to conduct experiments in semiconductors (with time resolution better than 50 fs), and we discuss special considerations when using it for such experiments.