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A broadband light source includes one or more laser diodes that are capable of generating a pump signal having a wavelength shorter than 2.5 microns, a pulse width of at least 100 picoseconds and a pump optical spectral width. The light source also includes one or more optical amplifiers that are co

A broadband light source includes one or more laser diodes that are capable of generating a pump signal having a wavelength shorter than 2.5 microns, a pulse width of at least 100 picoseconds and a pump optical spectral width. The light source also includes one or more optical amplifiers that are coupled to the pump signal and are capable of amplifying the pump signal to a peak power of at least 500 W. The light source further includes a first fiber that is coupled to the one or more optical amplifiers. The first fiber including an anomalous group-velocity dispersion regime and a modulational instability mechanism that operates to modulate the pump signal. The light source also includes a nonlinear element that is coupled to the first fiber that is capable of broadening the pump optical spectral width to at least 100 nm through a nonlinear effect in the nonlinear element.

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1. An optical system for use in a medical procedure, the system comprising: a plurality of semiconductor laser diodes, each of the semiconductor laser diodes capable of generating an optical beam that is optically coupled to a beam combiner;a first stage optical fiber optically coupled to the beam c

1. An optical system for use in a medical procedure, the system comprising: a plurality of semiconductor laser diodes, each of the semiconductor laser diodes capable of generating an optical beam that is optically coupled to a beam combiner;a first stage optical fiber optically coupled to the beam combiner, the first stage optical fiber receiving the optical beams and forming a corresponding pump beam having at least one wavelength;a second stage light guide optically coupled to the first stage optical fiber, the second stage light guide adapted to propagate the pump beam, wherein the pump beam wavelength is in a wavelength range between approximately 1700 nm and 1900 nm; anda lens subsystem adapted to receive and deliver at least a portion of the pump beam to target portions of tissue, to substantially damage the target portions without significantly damaging surrounding tissue or tissue above the target portions, wherein the pump beam wavelength is selected to obtain a desired penetration depth, wherein the pump beam has a temporal duration greater than approximately 100 picoseconds, wherein a time averaged output power of the pump beam is 20 mW or more, and wherein an intensity of the pump beam delivered by the lens subsystem is less than approximately 50 MW/cm2. 2. The optical system of claim 1, wherein the pump beam wavelength is further selected to substantially minimize water absorption and scattering. 3. The optical system of claim 1, wherein the pump beam wavelength is in a wavelength range between approximately 1700 nm and 1750 nm. 4. The optical system of claim 1, wherein at least the portion of the pump beam has a repetition rate between continuous wave and several Megahertz. 5. The optical system of claim 1, wherein the target portions of tissue comprise protein, amino acids, or amide groups. 6. The optical system of claim 1, wherein the pump beam wavelength comprises an optical wavelength where an optical absorption in the target portions of tissue exceeds an optical absorption of water. 7. The optical system of claim 1, wherein the medical procedure is a minimally invasive procedure. 8. The optical system of claim 1, wherein the temporal duration of the pump beam is less than 100 nanoseconds. 9. The optical system of claim 1, wherein the target portions of tissue have at least in part nerve agents that disrupt one or more mechanisms by which nerves transfer messages to organs. 10. A method for performing a medical procedure, the method comprising the steps of: generating one or more optical beams utilizing a plurality of semiconductor laser diodes;optically coupling the one or more optical beams to a beam combiner;receiving at a first stage optical fiber the one or more optical beams and forming a corresponding pump beam having at least one wavelength;propagating the pump beam in a second stage light guide optically coupled to the first stage optical fiber, wherein the at least one wavelength is in a wavelength range between approximately 1700 nm and 1900 nm; andreceiving and delivering at least a portion of the pump beam with a lens subsystem to target portions of tissue, to substantially damage the target portions without significantly damaging surrounding tissue or tissue above the target portions, wherein the pump beam wavelength is selected to obtain a desired penetration depth, wherein the pump beam has a temporal duration greater than approximately 100 picoseconds, wherein a time averaged output power of the pump beam is 20 mW or more, and wherein an intensity of the pump beam delivered by the lens subsystem is less than approximately 50 MW/cm2. 11. The method of claim 10, wherein the pump beam wavelength is in a wavelength range between approximately 1700 nm and 1750 nm, and wherein the pump beam wavelength is further selected to substantially minimize water absorption and scattering. 12. The method of claim 10, wherein at least the portion of the pump beam has a repetition rate between continuous wave and several Megahertz. 13. The method of claim 10, wherein the pump beam wavelength comprises an optical wavelength where an optical absorption in the target portions of tissue exceeds an optical absorption of water. 14. The method of claim 10, wherein the target portions of tissue have at least in part nerve agents that disrupt one or more mechanisms by which nerves transfer messages to organs. 15. An optical system for use in a medical procedure, the system comprising: a plurality of semiconductor laser diodes, each of the diodes being capable of generating an optical beam that is optically coupled to a beam combiner;a first stage optical fiber optically coupled to the beam combiner, the first stage optical fiber receiving the optical beams and forming a corresponding pump beam having at least one wavelength;a second stage light guide optically coupled to the first stage optical fiber, the second stage light guide adapted to propagate the pump beam; anda lens subsystem adapted to receive and deliver at least a portion of the pump beam to target portions of tissue, to substantially damage the target portions without significantly damaging surrounding tissue or tissue above the target portions, wherein the pump beam wavelength is selected to obtain a desired penetration depth and to substantially minimize water absorption, wherein the pump beam has a temporal duration greater than approximately 100 picoseconds, wherein at least the portion of the pump beam has a repetition rate between continuous wave and several Megahertz, wherein a time averaged output power of the pump beam is 20 mW or more, and wherein an intensity of the pump beam delivered by the lens subsystem is less than approximately 50 MW/cm2. 16. The optical system of claim 15, wherein the target portions of tissue comprise protein, amino acids, or amide groups. 17. The optical system of claim 15, wherein the pump beam wavelength comprises an optical wavelength where an optical absorption in the target portions of tissue exceeds an optical absorption of water. 18. The optical system of claim 15, wherein the medical procedure is a minimally invasive procedure. 19. The optical system of claim 15, wherein the pump beam wavelength is in a wavelength range between approximately 1700 nm and 1750 nm. 20. The optical system of claim 15, wherein the target portions of tissue have at least in part nerve agents that disrupt one or more mechanisms by which nerves transfer messages to organs.