High Coherence Mid-Infrared Dual Comb Spectroscopy Spanning 2.6 to 5.2 microns

TL;DR

This paper presents a broadband, high-precision mid-infrared dual-comb spectrometer capable of measuring spectra across an octave with high signal-to-noise ratio, enabling detailed molecular analysis.

Contribution

The authors develop a mid-infrared dual-comb spectrometer with broadband coverage and high spectral resolution, surpassing previous bandwidth and sensitivity limitations.

Findings

Measured spectra of propane, COS, methane, acetylene, and ethane.

Achieved spectral signal-to-noise ratio as high as 6500.

Demonstrated sub-MHz frequency precision and accuracy.

Abstract

Mid-infrared dual-comb spectroscopy has the potential to supplant conventional high-resolution Fourier transform spectroscopy in applications that require high resolution, accuracy, signal-to-noise ratio, and speed. Until now, dual-comb spectroscopy in the mid-infrared has been limited to narrow optical bandwidths or to low signal-to-noise ratios. Using a combination of digital signal processing and broadband frequency conversion in waveguides, we demonstrate a mid-infrared dual-comb spectrometer that can measure comb-tooth resolved spectra across an octave of bandwidth in the mid-infrared from 2.6-5.2 $\mu$m with sub-MHz frequency precision and accuracy and with a spectral signal-to-noise ratio as high as 6500. As a demonstration, we measure the highly structured, broadband cross-section of propane (C3H8) in the 2860-3020 cm-1 region, the complex phase/amplitude spectrum of carbonyl sulfide (COS) in the 2000 to 2100 cm-1 region, and the complex spectra of methane, acetylene, and ethane in the 2860-3400 cm-1 region.