Generation of high-flux ultra-broadband light by bandwidth amplification in spontaneous parametric down conversion

We present a method for generating an ultra-broadband spectrum of spontaneous parametric down conversion (SPDC) that is independent of the thickness of the nonlinear crystal, thereby yielding down-converted photons of high flux. We show that the bandwidth amplification inherent in the SPDC process is maximized at a wavelength where the group-velocity dispersion is minimal. Experimental results demonstrating the broad spectrum produced by this technique are presented.