Conclusion

The work presented in this article illustrates the dynamism of research into supercontinuum (SC) generation in optical fibers. We have explored the recent challenges of extending SC sources into the ultraviolet (UV) and mid-infrared (MIR), highlighting major advances in biomedical imaging and molecular spectroscopy. SC generation in the MIR has made particular progress, giving rise to compact, reliable systems based on cascaded fluoride-chalcogenide fibers, capable of delivering several watts between 2 and 10 µm. New prospects are emerging beyond 10 µm, notably with tellurium glass fibers. While SC MIR sources are gaining in maturity, those dedicated to UV remain under development. Silica fibers optimized for UV show promising potential despite still high losses, while gas-filled hollow-core fibers appear to be the most efficient solution for generating SC down to 100 nm in the near-UV...