Massively Parallel Sensing Of Trace Molecules And Their Isotopologues With Broadband Subharmonic Mid-Infrared Frequency Combs

Abstract

Mid-infrared spectroscopy offers supreme sensitivity for the detection of trace gases, solids and liquids based on tell-tale vibrational bands specific to this spectral region. Here, we present a new platform for mid-infrared dual-comb Fourier-transform spectroscopy based on a pair of ultra-broadband subharmonic optical parametric oscillators pumped by two phase-locked thulium-fibre combs. Our system provides fast (7 ms for a single interferogram), moving-parts-free, simultaneous acquisition of 350,000 spectral data points, spaced by a 115 MHz intermodal interval over the 3.1-5.5 μm spectral range. Parallel detection of 22 trace molecular species in a gas mixture, including isotopologues containing isotopes such as 13C, 18O, 17O, 15N, 34S, 33S and deuterium, with part-per-billion sensitivity and sub-Doppler resolution is demonstrated. The technique also features absolute optical frequency referencing to an atomic clock, a high degree of mutual coherence between the two mid-infrared combs with a relative comb-tooth linewidth of 25 mHz, coherent averaging and feasibility for kilohertz-scale spectral resolution.

Publication Date

3-1-2018

Publication Title

Nature Photonics

Volume

12

Issue

4

Number of Pages

209-214

Document Type

Article

Personal Identifier

scopus

DOI Link

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41566-018-0135-2

Socpus ID

85044451668 (Scopus)

Source API URL

https://api.elsevier.com/content/abstract/scopus_id/85044451668

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