ABSTRACT
This chapter reviews the history and development of practical
supercontinuum sources. As a result, only fiber-based devices will
be considered. Emphasis is placed on a description of the primary
nonlinear optical processes that contribute most commonly to
supercontinuum generation process and how they can be controlled
either through the correct choice of pump wavelength, pump pulse
format, and power or by controlling the physical parameters of the
host fiber such as the dispersion, mode field diameter, or associated
nonlinear coefficient.
