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Krebbers R, van Kempen K, Harren FJM, Vasilyev S, Peterse IF, Lücker S, Khodabakhsh A, Cristescu SM. Ultra-broadband spectroscopy using a 2-11.5 µm IDFG-based supercontinuum source. OPTICS EXPRESS 2024; 32:14506-14520. [PMID: 38859393 DOI: 10.1364/oe.515914] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2023] [Accepted: 02/09/2024] [Indexed: 06/12/2024]
Abstract
Supercontinuum sources based on intrapulse difference frequency generation (IDFG) from mode-locked lasers open new opportunities in mid-infrared gas spectroscopy. These sources provide high power and ultra-broadband spectral coverage in the molecular fingerprint region with very low relative intensity noise. Here, we demonstrate the performance of such a light source in combination with a multipass cell and a custom-built Fourier transform spectrometer (FTS) for multispecies trace gas detection. The light source provides a low-noise, ultra-broad spectrum from 2-11.5 µm with ∼3 W output power, outperforming existing mid-infrared supercontinuum sources in terms of noise, spectral coverage, and output power. This translates to an excellent match for spectroscopic applications, establishing (sub-)ppb sensitivity for molecular hydrocarbons (e.g., CH4, C2H4), oxides (e.g., SO2, NOx), and small organic molecules (e.g., acetone, ethyl acetate) over the spectral range of the supercontinuum source with a measurement time varying from seconds to minutes. We demonstrate a practical application by measuring the off-gas composition of a bioreactor containing an acidic ammonia-oxidizing culture with the simultaneous detection of multiple nitrogen oxides (NO, NO2, N2O, etc.). As the different species absorb various parts of the spectrum, these results highlight the functionality of this spectroscopic system for biological and environmental applications.
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2
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Tomaszewska-Rolla D, Jaworski P, Wu D, Yu F, Foltynowicz A, Krzempek K, Soboń G. Mid-infrared optical frequency comb spectroscopy using an all-silica antiresonant hollow-core fiber. OPTICS EXPRESS 2024; 32:10679-10689. [PMID: 38571273 DOI: 10.1364/oe.517012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2023] [Accepted: 02/15/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024]
Abstract
We present the first mid-infrared optical frequency comb spectrometer employing an absorption cell based on self-fabricated, all-silica antiresonant hollow-core fiber (ARHCF). The spectrometer is capable of measuring sub-mL sample volumes with 26 m interaction length and noise equivalent absorption sensitivity of 8.3 × 10-8 cm-1 Hz-1/2 per spectral element in the range of 2900 cm-1 to 3100 cm-1. Compared to a commercially available multipass cell, the ARHCF offers a similar interaction length in a 1000 times lower gas sample volume and a 2.8 dB lower transmission loss, resulting in better absorption sensitivity. The broad transmission windows of ARHCFs, in combination with a tunable optical frequency comb, make them ideal for multispecies detection, while the prospect of measuring samples in small volumes makes them a competitive technique to photoacoustic spectroscopy along with the robustness and prospect of coiling the ARHCFs open doors for miniaturization and out-of-laboratory applications.
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3
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Jin B, Jia L, Zhang F, Qu X, Zheng J, Niu Q, Gu W. High-precision nanosecond detection of a gas absorption spectrum based on optical frequency comb time-frequency mapping. OPTICS LETTERS 2023; 48:2034-2037. [PMID: 37058635 DOI: 10.1364/ol.488473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2023] [Accepted: 03/04/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
There is an increasing demand for high-precision gas absorption spectroscopy in basic research and industrial applications, such as gas tracking and leak warning. In this Letter, a novel, to the best of our knowledge, high-precision and real-time gas detection method is proposed. A femtosecond optical frequency comb is used as the light source, and a broadening pulse containing a range of oscillation frequencies is formed after passing through a dispersive element and a Mach-Zehnder interferometer. Four absorption lines of H13C14N gas cells are measured at five different concentrations within a single pulse period. A single scan detection time of only 5 ns is obtained along with a coherence averaging accuracy of 0.0055 nm. High-precision and ultrafast detection of the gas absorption spectrum is accomplished while overcoming complexities related to the acquisition system and light source that are encountered in existing methods.
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4
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Słowiński M, Makowski M, Sołtys KL, Stankiewicz K, Wójtewicz S, Lisak D, Piwiński M, Wcisło P. Cryogenic mirror position actuator for spectroscopic applications. THE REVIEW OF SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTS 2022; 93:115003. [PMID: 36461519 DOI: 10.1063/5.0116691] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2022] [Accepted: 09/30/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
We demonstrate a mirror position actuator that operates in a wide temperature range from room temperature to a deep cryogenic regime (10 K). We use a Michelson interferometer to measure the actuator tuning range (and piezoelectric efficiency) in the full temperature range. We demonstrate an unprecedented range of tunability of the mirror position in the cryogenic regime (over 22 μm at 10 K). The capability of controlling the mirror position in the range from few to few tens of microns is crucial for cavity-enhanced molecular spectroscopy techniques, especially in the important mid-infrared spectral regime where the length of an optical cavity has to be tunable in a range larger than the laser wavelength. The piezoelectric actuator offering this range of tunability in the cryogenic conditions, on the one hand, will enable development of optical cavities operating at low temperatures that are crucial for spectroscopy of large molecules whose dense spectra are difficult to resolve at room temperature. On the other hand, this will enable us to increase the accuracy of the measurement of simple molecules aimed at fundamental studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michał Słowiński
- Institute of Physics, Faculty of Physics, Astronomy and Informatics, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, Grudziądzka 5, 87-100 Toruń, Poland
| | - Marcin Makowski
- Institute of Physics, Faculty of Physics, Astronomy and Informatics, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, Grudziądzka 5, 87-100 Toruń, Poland
| | - Kamil Leon Sołtys
- Institute of Physics, Faculty of Physics, Astronomy and Informatics, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, Grudziądzka 5, 87-100 Toruń, Poland
| | - Kamil Stankiewicz
- Institute of Physics, Faculty of Physics, Astronomy and Informatics, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, Grudziądzka 5, 87-100 Toruń, Poland
| | - Szymon Wójtewicz
- Institute of Physics, Faculty of Physics, Astronomy and Informatics, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, Grudziądzka 5, 87-100 Toruń, Poland
| | - Daniel Lisak
- Institute of Physics, Faculty of Physics, Astronomy and Informatics, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, Grudziądzka 5, 87-100 Toruń, Poland
| | - Mariusz Piwiński
- Institute of Physics, Faculty of Physics, Astronomy and Informatics, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, Grudziądzka 5, 87-100 Toruń, Poland
| | - Piotr Wcisło
- Institute of Physics, Faculty of Physics, Astronomy and Informatics, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, Grudziądzka 5, 87-100 Toruń, Poland
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5
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Hoghooghi N, Xing S, Chang P, Lesko D, Lind A, Rieker G, Diddams S. Broadband 1-GHz mid-infrared frequency comb. LIGHT, SCIENCE & APPLICATIONS 2022; 11:264. [PMID: 36071054 PMCID: PMC9452668 DOI: 10.1038/s41377-022-00947-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2022] [Revised: 07/18/2022] [Accepted: 07/28/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Mid-infrared (MIR) spectrometers are invaluable tools for molecular fingerprinting and hyper-spectral imaging. Among the available spectroscopic approaches, GHz MIR dual-comb absorption spectrometers have the potential to simultaneously combine the high-speed, high spectral resolution, and broad optical bandwidth needed to accurately study complex, transient events in chemistry, combustion, and microscopy. However, such a spectrometer has not yet been demonstrated due to the lack of GHz MIR frequency combs with broad and full spectral coverage. Here, we introduce the first broadband MIR frequency comb laser platform at 1 GHz repetition rate that achieves spectral coverage from 3 to 13 µm. This frequency comb is based on a commercially available 1.56 µm mode-locked laser, robust all-fiber Er amplifiers and intra-pulse difference frequency generation (IP-DFG) of few-cycle pulses in χ(2) nonlinear crystals. When used in a dual comb spectroscopy (DCS) configuration, this source will simultaneously enable measurements with μs time resolution, 1 GHz (0.03 cm-1) spectral point spacing and a full bandwidth of >5 THz (>166 cm-1) anywhere within the MIR atmospheric windows. This represents a unique spectroscopic resource for characterizing fast and non-repetitive events that are currently inaccessible with other sources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nazanin Hoghooghi
- Precision Laser Diagnostics Laboratory, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, 80309, USA.
| | - Sida Xing
- Time and Frequency Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Boulder, CO, 80305, USA
- Department of Physics, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, 80309, USA
| | - Peter Chang
- Time and Frequency Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Boulder, CO, 80305, USA
- Department of Physics, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, 80309, USA
| | - Daniel Lesko
- Time and Frequency Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Boulder, CO, 80305, USA
- Department of Chemistry, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, 80309, USA
| | - Alexander Lind
- Time and Frequency Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Boulder, CO, 80305, USA
- Department of Physics, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, 80309, USA
| | - Greg Rieker
- Precision Laser Diagnostics Laboratory, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, 80309, USA
| | - Scott Diddams
- Time and Frequency Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Boulder, CO, 80305, USA.
- Department of Physics, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, 80309, USA.
- Electrical Computer and Energy Engineering, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, 80309, USA.
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6
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Cavity-Enhanced Frequency Comb Vernier Spectroscopy. PHOTONICS 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/photonics9040222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Vernier spectroscopy is a frequency comb-based technique employing optical cavities for filtering of the comb and for enhancement of the interaction length with the sample. Depending on the ratio of the cavity free spectral range and the comb repetition rate, the cavity transmits either widely spaced individual comb lines (comb-resolved Vernier spectroscopy) or groups of comb lines, called Vernier orders (continuous-filtering Vernier spectroscopy, CF-VS). The cavity filtering enables the use of low-resolution spectrometers to resolve the individual comb lines or Vernier orders. Vernier spectroscopy has been implemented using various near- and mid-infrared comb sources for applications ranging from trace gas detection to precision spectroscopy. Here, we present the principles of the technique and provide a review of previous demonstrations of comb-resolved and continuous-filtering Vernier spectroscopy. We also demonstrate two new implementations of CF-VS: one in the mid-infrared, based on a difference frequency generation comb source, with a new and more robust detection system design, and the other in the near-infrared, based on a Ti:sapphire laser, reaching high sensitivity and the fundamental resolution limit of the technique.
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7
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Lisak D, Charczun D, Nishiyama A, Voumard T, Wildi T, Kowzan G, Brasch V, Herr T, Fleisher AJ, Hodges JT, Ciuryło R, Cygan A, Masłowski P. Dual-comb cavity ring-down spectroscopy. Sci Rep 2022; 12:2377. [PMID: 35149716 PMCID: PMC8837621 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-05926-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2021] [Accepted: 01/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Cavity ring-down spectroscopy is a ubiquitous optical method used to study light-matter interactions with high resolution, sensitivity and accuracy. However, it has never been performed with the multiplexing advantages of direct frequency comb spectroscopy without significantly compromising spectral resolution. We present dual-comb cavity ring-down spectroscopy (DC-CRDS) based on the parallel heterodyne detection of ring-down signals with a local oscillator comb to yield absorption and dispersion spectra. These spectra are obtained from widths and positions of cavity modes. We present two approaches which leverage the dynamic cavity response to coherently or randomly driven changes in the amplitude or frequency of the probe field. Both techniques yield accurate spectra of methane-an important greenhouse gas and breath biomarker. When combined with broadband frequency combs, the high sensitivity, spectral resolution and accuracy of our DC-CRDS technique shows promise for applications like studies of the structure and dynamics of large molecules, multispecies trace gas detection and isotopic composition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Lisak
- Institute of Physics, Faculty of Physics, Astronomy and Informatics, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, ul. Grudziądzka 5, 87-100, Toruń, Poland.
| | - Dominik Charczun
- Institute of Physics, Faculty of Physics, Astronomy and Informatics, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, ul. Grudziądzka 5, 87-100, Toruń, Poland
| | - Akiko Nishiyama
- Institute of Physics, Faculty of Physics, Astronomy and Informatics, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, ul. Grudziądzka 5, 87-100, Toruń, Poland
- National Metrology Institute of Japan (NMIJ), National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, 1-1-1 Umezono, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8563, Japan
| | - Thibault Voumard
- Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY, Notkestr. 85, 22607, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Thibault Wildi
- Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY, Notkestr. 85, 22607, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Grzegorz Kowzan
- Institute of Physics, Faculty of Physics, Astronomy and Informatics, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, ul. Grudziądzka 5, 87-100, Toruń, Poland
| | - Victor Brasch
- CSEM - Swiss Center for Electronics and Microtechnology, 2000, Neuchâtel, Switzerland
| | - Tobias Herr
- Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY, Notkestr. 85, 22607, Hamburg, Germany
- Physics Department, Universität Hamburg UHH, Luruper Chaussee 149, 22761, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Adam J Fleisher
- Optical Measurements Group, National Institute of Standards and Technology, 100 Bureau Drive, Gaithersburg, MD, 20899, USA
| | - Joseph T Hodges
- Optical Measurements Group, National Institute of Standards and Technology, 100 Bureau Drive, Gaithersburg, MD, 20899, USA
| | - Roman Ciuryło
- Institute of Physics, Faculty of Physics, Astronomy and Informatics, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, ul. Grudziądzka 5, 87-100, Toruń, Poland
| | - Agata Cygan
- Institute of Physics, Faculty of Physics, Astronomy and Informatics, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, ul. Grudziądzka 5, 87-100, Toruń, Poland
| | - Piotr Masłowski
- Institute of Physics, Faculty of Physics, Astronomy and Informatics, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, ul. Grudziądzka 5, 87-100, Toruń, Poland
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8
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Abbas MA, Jahromi KE, Nematollahi M, Krebbers R, Liu N, Woyessa G, Bang O, Huot L, Harren FJM, Khodabakhsh A. Fourier transform spectrometer based on high-repetition-rate mid-infrared supercontinuum sources for trace gas detection. OPTICS EXPRESS 2021; 29:22315-22330. [PMID: 34265999 DOI: 10.1364/oe.425995] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2021] [Accepted: 05/14/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
We present a fast-scanning Fourier transform spectrometer (FTS) in combination with high-repetition-rate mid-infrared supercontinuum sources, covering a wavelength range of 2-10.5 µm. We demonstrate the performance of the spectrometer for trace gas detection and compare various detection methods: baseband detection with a single photodetector, baseband balanced detection, and synchronous demodulation at the repetition rate of the supercontinuum source. The FTS uses off-the-shelf optical components and provides a minimum spectral resolution of 750 MHz. It achieves a noise equivalent absorption sensitivity of ∼10-6 cm-1 Hz-1/2 per spectral element, by using a 31.2 m multipass absorption cell.
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9
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Jahromi KE, Nematollahi M, Krebbers R, Abbas MA, Khodabakhsh A, Harren FJM. Fourier transform and grating-based spectroscopy with a mid-infrared supercontinuum source for trace gas detection in fruit quality monitoring. OPTICS EXPRESS 2021; 29:12381-12397. [PMID: 33984999 DOI: 10.1364/oe.418072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2020] [Accepted: 02/20/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
We present a multi-species trace gas sensor based on a fast, compact home-built Fourier transform spectrometer (FTS) combined with a broadband mid-infrared supercontinuum (SC) source. The spectrometer covers the spectral bandwidth of the SC source (2 - 4 µm) and provides a best spectral resolution of 1 GHz in 6 seconds. It has a detection sensitivity of a few hundred of ppbv Hz-1/2 for different gas species. We study the performance of the developed spectrometer in terms of precision, linearity, long-term stability, and multi-species detection. We use the spectrometer for measuring fruit-produced volatiles under different atmospheric conditions and compare the performance with a previously developed scanning grating-based spectrometer.
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10
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Han L, Wang T, Song G, Ma W, Fu Q, Yang Q, Liu X, Guo Y, Jiang H. Tunable peak power square-wave pulse based on an all-PM thulium-doped mode-locked fiber laser. APPLIED OPTICS 2021; 60:1982-1986. [PMID: 33690290 DOI: 10.1364/ao.416103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2020] [Accepted: 02/07/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Nanosecond dissipative soliton resonance pulse is a demonstration of an all polarization-maintaining (PM) thulium-doped fiber laser in a nonlinear amplifying loop mirror (NALM)-based figure-eight configuration. Each loop of the apparatus includes a controllable power amplifier. With increased amplifier power, pulse width broadens linearly from 3.6 to 13.5 ns, and maximum single pulse energy can reach 27.5 nJ. Interestingly, the output peak power presents two completely opposite proportional effects in terms of the variation of settings for two amplifiers, respectively. The experimental results show that the NALM loop plays an important role for tunable pulse duration, and the unidirectional ring part makes a significant contribution for power scaling.
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11
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Luo PL. Long-wave mid-infrared time-resolved dual-comb spectroscopy of short-lived intermediates. OPTICS LETTERS 2020; 45:6791-6794. [PMID: 33325898 DOI: 10.1364/ol.413754] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2020] [Accepted: 11/15/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
In this Letter, an electro-optic dual-comb spectrometer with a central tunable range of 7.77-8.22 µm is demonstrated to perform transient absorption spectroscopy of the simplest Criegee intermediate (CH2OO), a short-lived species involved in many key atmospheric reactions, and its self-reaction product via comb-mode-resolved spectral sampling at microsecond temporal resolution. By combining with a Herriott-type flash photolysis cell, CH2OO can be probed with a detection limit down to ∼1×1011moleculescm-3. Moreover, pressure broadening of CH2OO absorption lines can be studied with spectrally interleaved dual-comb spectroscopy. This Letter holds promise for high-resolution precision measurements of transient molecules, especially for the study of large molecules in complex systems.
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12
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Ycas G, Giorgetta FR, Friedlein JT, Herman D, Cossel KC, Baumann E, Newbury NR, Coddington I. Compact mid-infrared dual-comb spectrometer for outdoor spectroscopy. OPTICS EXPRESS 2020; 28:14740-14752. [PMID: 32403509 DOI: 10.1364/oe.385860] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2020] [Accepted: 04/20/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
This manuscript describes the design of a robust, mid-infrared dual-comb spectrometer operating in the 3.1-µm to 4-µm spectral window for future field applications. The design represents an improvement in system size, power consumption, and robustness relative to previous work while also providing a high spectral signal-to-noise ratio. We demonstrate a system quality factor of 2×106 and 30 hours of continuous operation over a 120-meter outdoor air path.
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13
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Ning C, Liu P, Qin Y, Zhang Z. Continuous wavelength tuning of nondegenerate femtosecond doubly resonant optical parametric oscillators. OPTICS LETTERS 2020; 45:2551-2554. [PMID: 32356814 DOI: 10.1364/ol.390380] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2020] [Accepted: 03/30/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
We report an approach for continuous tuning of the central wavelengths of a femtosecond nondegenerate doubly resonant optical parametric oscillator (DRO). Key in this scheme is the insertion of a wavelength-selective element into the DRO cavity-length-locking system, which allows selected narrow-band emission from a DRO to be detected and enables the DRO cavity length to be locked away from the peak of its cavity resonances. In a preliminary experiment, we demonstrated a femtosecond nondegenerate DRO with its central-wavelength continuously-tunable over each of its cavity resonances and achieved a wavelength-tuning range of 1910-2070 nm for the signal wave and 2140-2340 nm for the idler wave. This is, to the best of our knowledge, the first demonstration of the continuous-wavelength-tuning capability of DRO systems.
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14
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Gianella M, Nataraj A, Tuzson B, Jouy P, Kapsalidis F, Beck M, Mangold M, Hugi A, Faist J, Emmenegger L. High-resolution and gapless dual comb spectroscopy with current-tuned quantum cascade lasers. OPTICS EXPRESS 2020; 28:6197-6208. [PMID: 32225874 DOI: 10.1364/oe.379790] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2019] [Accepted: 01/06/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
We present gapless, high-resolution absorption and dispersion spectra obtained with quantum cascade laser frequency combs covering 55 cm-1. Using phase-sensitive dual comb design, the comb lines are gradually swept over 10 GHz, corresponding to the free spectral range of the laser devices, by applying a current modulation. We show that with interleaving the spectral point spacing is reduced by more than four orders of magnitude over the full spectral span of the frequency comb. The potential of this technique for high-precision gas sensing is illustrated by measuring the low pressure (107 hPa) absorption and dispersion spectra of methane spanning the range of 1170 cm-1 - 1225 cm-1 with a resolution of 0.001 cm-1.
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15
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Krzempek K, Tomaszewska D, Głuszek A, Martynkien T, Mergo P, Sotor J, Foltynowicz A, Soboń G. Stabilized all-fiber source for generation of tunable broadband fCEO-free mid-IR frequency comb in the 7 - 9 µm range. OPTICS EXPRESS 2019; 27:37435-37445. [PMID: 31878523 DOI: 10.1364/oe.27.037435] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2019] [Accepted: 12/01/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
A compact and robust all-fiber difference frequency generation-based source of broadband mid-infrared radiation is presented. The source emits tunable radiation in the range between 6.5 µm and 9 µm with an average output power up to 5 mW at 125 MHz repetition frequency. The all-in-fiber construction of the source along with active stabilization techniques results in long-term repetition rate stability of 3 Hz per 10 h and a standard deviation of the output power better than 0.8% per 1 h. The applicability of the presented source to laser spectroscopy is demonstrated by measuring the absorption spectrum of nitrous oxide (N2O) around 7.8 µm. The robustness and good long- and short-term stability of the source opens up for applications outside the laboratory.
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16
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Abbas MA, Pan Q, Mandon J, Cristescu SM, Harren FJM, Khodabakhsh A. Time-resolved mid-infrared dual-comb spectroscopy. Sci Rep 2019; 9:17247. [PMID: 31754263 PMCID: PMC6872568 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-53825-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2019] [Accepted: 11/01/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Dual-comb spectroscopy can provide broad spectral bandwidth and high spectral resolution in a short acquisition time, enabling time-resolved measurements. Specifically, spectroscopy in the mid-infrared wavelength range is of particular interest, since most of the molecules have their strongest rotational-vibrational transitions in this "fingerprint" region. Here we report time-resolved mid-infrared dual-comb spectroscopy, covering ~300 nm bandwidth around 3.3 μm with 6 GHz spectral resolution and 20 μs temporal resolution. As a demonstration, we study a CH4/He gas mixture in an electric discharge, while the discharge is modulated between dark and glow regimes. We simultaneously monitor the production of C2H6 and the vibrational excitation of CH4 molecules, observing the dynamics of both processes. This approach to broadband, high-resolution, and time-resolved mid-infrared spectroscopy provides a new tool for monitoring the kinetics of fast chemical reactions, with potential applications in various fields such as physical chemistry and plasma/combustion analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad A Abbas
- Trace Gas Research Group, Department of Molecular and Laser Physics, Institute for Molecules and Materials, Radboud University, 6525 AJ, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Qing Pan
- Trace Gas Research Group, Department of Molecular and Laser Physics, Institute for Molecules and Materials, Radboud University, 6525 AJ, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Julien Mandon
- Trace Gas Research Group, Department of Molecular and Laser Physics, Institute for Molecules and Materials, Radboud University, 6525 AJ, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Simona M Cristescu
- Trace Gas Research Group, Department of Molecular and Laser Physics, Institute for Molecules and Materials, Radboud University, 6525 AJ, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Frans J M Harren
- Trace Gas Research Group, Department of Molecular and Laser Physics, Institute for Molecules and Materials, Radboud University, 6525 AJ, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Amir Khodabakhsh
- Trace Gas Research Group, Department of Molecular and Laser Physics, Institute for Molecules and Materials, Radboud University, 6525 AJ, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
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17
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Lu C, Vieira FS, Schmidt FM, Foltynowicz A. Time-resolved continuous-filtering Vernier spectroscopy of H 2O and OH radical in a flame. OPTICS EXPRESS 2019; 27:29521-29533. [PMID: 31684212 DOI: 10.1364/oe.27.029521] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2019] [Accepted: 09/13/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
We use broadband near-infrared continuous-filtering Vernier spectroscopy (CF-VS) for time-resolved detection of H2O and OH radical in a premixed CH4/air flat flame. The CF-VS spectrometer is based on a femtosecond Er:fiber laser, an external cavity that contains the flame, and a detection system comprising a rotating diffraction grating and photodetectors. Spectra of H2O and OH radical around 1570 nm are continuously recorded with 6.6 GHz spectral resolution, 4.0 × 10-7 cm-1 absorption sensitivity, and 25 ms time resolution, while the fuel-air equivalence ratio is periodically modulated with a square wave. The concentrations of the two analytes are retrieved with percent level precision by a fit of a Vernier model to each spectrum spanning 13 nm. The temporal profiles of both concentrations in each modulation cycle are repeatable and the steady-state concentration levels are in good agreement with predictions based on one-dimensional simulations of a static flat flame. The robust CF-VS spectrometer opens up for quantitative monitoring of multiple products of time-varying combustion processes with relatively simple data acquisition procedures.
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18
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Jahromi KE, Pan Q, Høgstedt L, Friis SMM, Khodabakhsh A, Moselund PM, Harren FJM. Mid-infrared supercontinuum-based upconversion detection for trace gas sensing. OPTICS EXPRESS 2019; 27:24469-24480. [PMID: 31510335 DOI: 10.1364/oe.27.024469] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2019] [Accepted: 07/02/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Recent advancements of mid-infrared (MIR) supercontinuum light sources have opened up new possibilities in laser-based trace gas sensing. While the supercontinuum sources inherently support wide spectral coverage, the detection of broadband absorption signals with high speed and low cost is traditionally limited by the MIR detector arrays. In this work, we demonstrate that this limitation can be circumvented by upconverting the MIR signal into the near-infrared (NIR) region, where cost-effective silicon-based detector arrays can be utilized to measure broadband absorption. We also show that, by combining a MIR supercontinuum source with a MIR-to-NIR upconverter and an astigmatic multipass cell, fast detection (~20 ms) of ethane with sub-ppmv sensitivity can be achieved at room temperature. For multi-species detection, a least-square global fitting method is presented, showing a promising potential for applications such as environmental monitoring and biomedical research.
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19
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Eslami Jahromi K, Pan Q, Khodabakhsh A, Sikkens C, Assman P, Cristescu SM, Moselund PM, Janssens M, Verlinden BE, Harren FJM. A Broadband Mid-Infrared Trace Gas Sensor Using Supercontinuum Light Source: Applications for Real-Time Quality Control for Fruit Storage. SENSORS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2019; 19:E2334. [PMID: 31117174 PMCID: PMC6566869 DOI: 10.3390/s19102334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2019] [Revised: 05/15/2019] [Accepted: 05/17/2019] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
We present a fully integrated and transportable multi-species trace gas sensor based on a mid-infrared (MIR) supercontinuum light source. The high brightness (surpassing synchrotron) and ultra-broad spectral bandwidth (2-4 μm) of this light source allows simultaneous detection of multiple broadband absorbing gas species. High sensitivity in the sub-ppmv level has been achieved by utilizing an astigmatic multipass cell. A grating-based spectrometer at a scanning rate of 20 Hz is developed employing a balanced detection scheme. A multi-component global fitting algorithm is implemented into a central LabVIEW program to perform real-time data analysis. The obtained concentration values are validated by the standard gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS) method. Field application of the sensor for quality control of stored fruits at a small scale is demonstrated, involving the detection of ethylene, ethanol, ethyl acetate, acetaldehyde, methanol, acetone, and water simultaneously. The sensor also shows promising potentials for other applications, such as environmental monitoring and biomedical research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khalil Eslami Jahromi
- Trace Gas Research Group, Institute of Molecules and Materials, Radboud University, 6525 AJ Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
| | - Qing Pan
- Trace Gas Research Group, Institute of Molecules and Materials, Radboud University, 6525 AJ Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
| | - Amir Khodabakhsh
- Trace Gas Research Group, Institute of Molecules and Materials, Radboud University, 6525 AJ Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
| | - Cor Sikkens
- Trace Gas Research Group, Institute of Molecules and Materials, Radboud University, 6525 AJ Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
| | - Paul Assman
- Trace Gas Research Group, Institute of Molecules and Materials, Radboud University, 6525 AJ Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
| | - Simona M Cristescu
- Trace Gas Research Group, Institute of Molecules and Materials, Radboud University, 6525 AJ Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
| | | | - Maxime Janssens
- Flanders Center of Postharvest Technology, Willem de Croylaan 42, 3001 Heverlee, Belgium.
| | - Bert E Verlinden
- Flanders Center of Postharvest Technology, Willem de Croylaan 42, 3001 Heverlee, Belgium.
| | - Frans J M Harren
- Trace Gas Research Group, Institute of Molecules and Materials, Radboud University, 6525 AJ Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
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20
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Iwakuni K, Bui TQ, Niedermeyer JF, Sukegawa T, Ye J. Comb-resolved spectroscopy with immersion grating in long-wave infrared. OPTICS EXPRESS 2019; 27:1911-1921. [PMID: 30732237 DOI: 10.1364/oe.27.001911] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2018] [Accepted: 12/31/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
We have developed a dispersive spectrometer by using a compact immersion grating for direct frequency comb spectroscopy in the long-wave infrared region of 8-10 μm for the first time. A frequency resolution of 460 MHz is achieved, which is the highest reported in this wavelength region with a dispersive spectrometer. We also demonstrate individual comb mode-resolved imaging by cavity filtering and apply this to obtain spectra of both simple and complex molecular spectra. These results indicate that the immersion grating spectrometer offers the next advancement for sensitive, high-resolution spectroscopy of transient and large/complex molecules when combined with cavity enhancement and cooling techniques.
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21
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Mid-Infrared Tunable Laser-Based Broadband Fingerprint Absorption Spectroscopy for Trace Gas Sensing: A Review. APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL 2019. [DOI: 10.3390/app9020338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
The vast majority of gaseous chemical substances exhibit fundamental rovibrational absorption bands in the mid-infrared spectral region (2.5–25 μm), and the absorption of light by these fundamental bands provides a nearly universal means for their detection. A main feature of optical techniques is the non-intrusive in situ detection of trace gases. We reviewed primarily mid-infrared tunable laser-based broadband absorption spectroscopy for trace gas detection, focusing on 2008–2018. The scope of this paper is to discuss recent developments of system configuration, tunable lasers, detectors, broadband spectroscopic techniques, and their applications for sensitive, selective, and quantitative trace gas detection.
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22
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Sadiek I, Mikkonen T, Vainio M, Toivonen J, Foltynowicz A. Optical frequency comb photoacoustic spectroscopy. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2018; 20:27849-27855. [PMID: 30398249 DOI: 10.1039/c8cp05666h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
We report the first photoacoustic detection scheme using an optical frequency comb-optical frequency comb photoacoustic spectroscopy (OFC-PAS). OFC-PAS combines the broad spectral coverage and the high resolution of OFCs with the small sample volume of cantilever-enhanced PA detection. In OFC-PAS, a Fourier transform spectrometer (FTS) is used to modulate the intensity of the exciting comb source at a frequency determined by its scanning speed. One of the FTS outputs is directed to the PA cell and the other is measured simultaneously with a photodiode and used to normalize the PA signal. The cantilever-enhanced PA detector operates in a non-resonant mode, enabling detection of a broadband frequency response. The broadband and the high-resolution capabilities of OFC-PAS are demonstrated by measuring the rovibrational spectra of the fundamental C-H stretch band of CH4, with no instrumental line shape distortions, at total pressures of 1000 mbar, 650 mbar, and 400 mbar. In this first demonstration, a spectral resolution two orders of magnitude better than previously reported with broadband PAS is obtained, limited by the pressure broadening. A limit of detection of 0.8 ppm of methane in N2 is accomplished in a single interferogram measurement (200 s measurement time, 1000 MHz spectral resolution, 1000 mbar total pressure) for an exciting power spectral density of 42 μW/cm-1. A normalized noise equivalent absorption of 8 × 10-10 W cm-1 Hz-1/2 is obtained, which is only a factor of three higher than the best reported with PAS based on continuous wave lasers. A wide dynamic range of up to four orders of magnitude and a very good linearity (limited by the Beer-Lambert law) over two orders of magnitude are realized. OFC-PAS extends the capability of optical sensors for multispecies trace gas analysis in small sample volumes with high resolution and selectivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ibrahim Sadiek
- Department of Physics, Umeå University, 901 87, Umeå, Sweden.
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23
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Henderson B, Khodabakhsh A, Metsälä M, Ventrillard I, Schmidt FM, Romanini D, Ritchie GAD, te Lintel Hekkert S, Briot R, Risby T, Marczin N, Harren FJM, Cristescu SM. Laser spectroscopy for breath analysis: towards clinical implementation. APPLIED PHYSICS. B, LASERS AND OPTICS 2018; 124:161. [PMID: 30956412 PMCID: PMC6428385 DOI: 10.1007/s00340-018-7030-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2018] [Accepted: 07/19/2018] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
Detection and analysis of volatile compounds in exhaled breath represents an attractive tool for monitoring the metabolic status of a patient and disease diagnosis, since it is non-invasive and fast. Numerous studies have already demonstrated the benefit of breath analysis in clinical settings/applications and encouraged multidisciplinary research to reveal new insights regarding the origins, pathways, and pathophysiological roles of breath components. Many breath analysis methods are currently available to help explore these directions, ranging from mass spectrometry to laser-based spectroscopy and sensor arrays. This review presents an update of the current status of optical methods, using near and mid-infrared sources, for clinical breath gas analysis over the last decade and describes recent technological developments and their applications. The review includes: tunable diode laser absorption spectroscopy, cavity ring-down spectroscopy, integrated cavity output spectroscopy, cavity-enhanced absorption spectroscopy, photoacoustic spectroscopy, quartz-enhanced photoacoustic spectroscopy, and optical frequency comb spectroscopy. A SWOT analysis (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats) is presented that describes the laser-based techniques within the clinical framework of breath research and their appealing features for clinical use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ben Henderson
- Trace Gas Research Group, Molecular and Laser Physics, IMM, Radboud University, 6525 AJ Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Amir Khodabakhsh
- Trace Gas Research Group, Molecular and Laser Physics, IMM, Radboud University, 6525 AJ Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Markus Metsälä
- Department of Chemistry, University of Helsinki, PO Box 55, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
| | | | - Florian M. Schmidt
- Department of Applied Physics and Electronics, Umeå University, 90187 Umeå, Sweden
| | - Daniele Romanini
- University of Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, LIPhy, 38000 Grenoble, France
| | - Grant A. D. Ritchie
- Department of Chemistry, Physical and Theoretical Chemistry Laboratory, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3QZ UK
| | | | - Raphaël Briot
- University of Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, TIMC-IMAG, 38000 Grenoble, France
- Emergency Department and Mobile Intensive Care Unit, Grenoble University Hospital, Grenoble, France
| | - Terence Risby
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Bloomberg School of Public Health, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, USA
| | - Nandor Marczin
- Section of Anaesthetics, Pain Medicine and Intensive Care, Department of Surgery and Cancer, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, UK
- Centre of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Frans J. M. Harren
- Trace Gas Research Group, Molecular and Laser Physics, IMM, Radboud University, 6525 AJ Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Simona M. Cristescu
- Trace Gas Research Group, Molecular and Laser Physics, IMM, Radboud University, 6525 AJ Nijmegen, The Netherlands
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24
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Sotor J, Martynkien T, Schunemann PG, Mergo P, Rutkowski L, Soboń G. All-fiber mid-infrared source tunable from 6 to 9 μm based on difference frequency generation in OP-GaP crystal. OPTICS EXPRESS 2018; 26:11756-11763. [PMID: 29716094 DOI: 10.1364/oe.26.011756] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2018] [Accepted: 04/07/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
We report the first fully fiberized difference frequency generation (DFG) source, delivering a broadly tunable idler in the 6 to 9 μm spectral range, using an orientation-patterned gallium phosphide (OP-GaP) crystals with different quasi-phase matching periods (QPM). The mid-infrared radiation (MIR) is obtained via mixing of the output of a graphene-based Er-doped fiber laser at 1.55 μm with coherent frequency-shifted solitons at 1.9 μm generated in a highly nonlinear fiber using the same seed. The presented setup is the first truly all-fiber, all-polarization maintaining, alignment-free DFG source reported so far. Its application to laser spectroscopy was demonstrated by the absorption spectrum measurement of ν4 band of methane in 7.5 - 8.3 µm spectral range. The system simplicity and compactness paves the way for applications in field-deployable optical frequency comb spectroscopy systems for gas sensing.
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25
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Ferreira MFS, Castro-Camus E, Ottaway DJ, López-Higuera JM, Feng X, Jin W, Jeong Y, Picqué N, Tong L, Reinhard BM, Pellegrino PM, Méndez A, Diem M, Vollmer F, Quan Q. Roadmap on optical sensors. JOURNAL OF OPTICS (2010) 2017; 19:083001. [PMID: 29375751 PMCID: PMC5781231 DOI: 10.1088/2040-8986/aa7419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Sensors are devices or systems able to detect, measure and convert magnitudes from any domain to an electrical one. Using light as a probe for optical sensing is one of the most efficient approaches for this purpose. The history of optical sensing using some methods based on absorbance, emissive and florescence properties date back to the 16th century. The field of optical sensors evolved during the following centuries, but it did not achieve maturity until the demonstration of the first laser in 1960. The unique properties of laser light become particularly important in the case of laser-based sensors, whose operation is entirely based upon the direct detection of laser light itself, without relying on any additional mediating device. However, compared with freely propagating light beams, artificially engineered optical fields are in increasing demand for probing samples with very small sizes and/or weak light-matter interaction. Optical fiber sensors constitute a subarea of optical sensors in which fiber technologies are employed. Different types of specialty and photonic crystal fibers provide improved performance and novel sensing concepts. Actually, structurization with wavelength or subwavelength feature size appears as the most efficient way to enhance sensor sensitivity and its detection limit. This leads to the area of micro- and nano-engineered optical sensors. It is expected that the combination of better fabrication techniques and new physical effects may open new and fascinating opportunities in this area. This roadmap on optical sensors addresses different technologies and application areas of the field. Fourteen contributions authored by experts from both industry and academia provide insights into the current state-of-the-art and the challenges faced by researchers currently. Two sections of this paper provide an overview of laser-based and frequency comb-based sensors. Three sections address the area of optical fiber sensors, encompassing both conventional, specialty and photonic crystal fibers. Several other sections are dedicated to micro- and nano-engineered sensors, including whispering-gallery mode and plasmonic sensors. The uses of optical sensors in chemical, biological and biomedical areas are described in other sections. Different approaches required to satisfy applications at visible, infrared and THz spectral regions are also discussed. Advances in science and technology required to meet challenges faced in each of these areas are addressed, together with suggestions on how the field could evolve in the near future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mário F S Ferreira
- Department of Physics, I3N-Institute of Nanostructures, Nanomodelling and Nanofabrication, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Enrique Castro-Camus
- Centro de Investigaciones en Optica A.C. Loma del Bosque 115, Lomas del Campestre. Leon, Guanajuato, 37150, Mexico
| | - David J Ottaway
- Department of Physics and Institute of Photonics and Advanced Sensing, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - José Miguel López-Higuera
- Photonics Engineering Group (GIF), Department TEISA, University of Cantabria, E-39005 Santander, Spain
- CIBER-bbn, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, E-28029 Madrid, Spain
- IDIVAL, Instituto de Investigación Marques Valdecilla, E-39011 Santander, Cantabria, Spain
| | - Xian Feng
- Beijing Engineering Research Center of Applied Laser Technology; Institute of Laser Engineering, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, People's Republic of China
| | - Wei Jin
- Department of Electrical Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong
| | - Yoonchan Jeong
- Laser Engineering and Applications Laboratory, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Nathalie Picqué
- Max-Planck-Institut für Quantenoptik, Hans-Kopfermann-Str. 1. D-85748 Garching, Germany
| | - Limin Tong
- State Key Laboratory of Modern Optical Instrumentation, College of Optical Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, People's Republic of China
| | - Björn M Reinhard
- Photonics Center, Boston University, 8 Saint Mary's Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States of America
- Chemistry Department, Boston University, 590 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States of America
| | - Paul M Pellegrino
- RDRL-SEE-O, US Army Research Laboratory, 2800 Powder Mill Road, Adelphi, Maryland 20783, United States of America
| | - Alexis Méndez
- MCH Engineering LLC, Alameda, California 94501, United States of America
| | - Max Diem
- Laboratory for Spectral Diagnosis, Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States of America
- Cireca Theranostics, LLC, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States of America
| | - Frank Vollmer
- Living Systems Institute, Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Exeter, Exeter, EX4 4QD, United Kingdom
| | - Qimin Quan
- Rowland Institute at Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, United States of America
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26
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Zhu F, Xia J, Bicer A, Bounds J, Kolomenskii A, Strohaber J, Johnson L, Amani M, Schuessler H. Probing methane in air with a midinfrared frequency comb source. APPLIED OPTICS 2017; 56:6311-6316. [PMID: 29047829 DOI: 10.1364/ao.56.006311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2017] [Accepted: 07/09/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
We employed a midinfrared frequency comb source for methane detection in ambient air. The transmitted spectra over a bandwidth of about 500 nm were recorded with an optical spectrum analyzer under various experimental conditions of different path lengths. The normalized absorption spectra were compared and fitted with simulations, yielding quantitative values of concentrations of methane and water vapor in the ambient air. The 3σ detection limit was ∼6.6×10-7 cm-1 in ambient air for a broad spectral range, achieved with a path length of ∼590 m. This approach provides a broad spectral range, a large dynamic range, high sensitivity, and accurate calibration. The performed analysis of the residuals shows that an excellent agreement between the measured and calculated spectral profiles was obtained.
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27
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Vainio M, Halonen L. Stabilization of femtosecond optical parametric oscillators for infrared frequency comb generation. OPTICS LETTERS 2017; 42:2722-2725. [PMID: 28708153 DOI: 10.1364/ol.42.002722] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2017] [Accepted: 06/12/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
A synchronously pumped optical parametric oscillator (SP-OPO) is one of the most common techniques to generate femtosecond frequency combs in the mid-infrared region. Stable long-term operation of an SP-OPO requires active locking of the OPO resonator round-trip time to the pump pulse interval. A simple modulation-free locking method based on stabilization of narrow-band frequency-doubled power of the SP-OPO output comb is demonstrated in this Letter. The method relies on the strong dependency of frequency-doubled power on spectral shape of the comb, leading to better stability of the comb envelope spectrum than the commonly used dither-and-lock method.
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28
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Soboń G, Martynkien T, Mergo P, Rutkowski L, Foltynowicz A. High-power frequency comb source tunable from 2.7 to 4.2 μm based on difference frequency generation pumped by an Yb-doped fiber laser. OPTICS LETTERS 2017; 42:1748-1751. [PMID: 28454151 DOI: 10.1364/ol.42.001748] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
We demonstrate a broadband mid-infrared (MIR) frequency comb source based on difference frequency generation (DFG) in periodically poled lithium niobate crystal. MIR radiation is obtained via mixing of the output of a 125 MHz repetition rate Yb-doped fiber laser with Raman-shifted solitons generated from the same source in a highly nonlinear fiber. The resulting idler is tunable in the range of 2.7-4.2 μm, with average output power reaching 237 mW and pulses as short as 115 fs. The coherence of the MIR comb is confirmed by spectral interferometry and heterodyne beat measurements. Applicability of the developed DFG source for laser spectroscopy is demonstrated by measuring absorption spectrum of acetylene at 3.0-3.1 μm.
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CNT-based saturable absorbers with scalable modulation depth for Thulium-doped fiber lasers operating at 1.9 μm. Sci Rep 2017; 7:45491. [PMID: 28368014 PMCID: PMC5377377 DOI: 10.1038/srep45491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2016] [Accepted: 02/28/2017] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
In this work, we demonstrate a comprehensive study on the nonlinear parameters of carbon nanotube (CNT) saturable absorbers (SA) as a function of the nanotube film thickness. We have fabricated a set of four saturable absorbers with different CNT thickness, ranging from 50 to 200 nm. The CNTs were fabricated via a vacuum filtration technique and deposited on fiber connector end facets. Each SA was characterized in terms of nonlinear transmittance (i.e. optical modulation depth) and tested in a Thulium-doped fiber laser. We show, that increasing the thickness of the CNT layer significantly increases the modulation depth (up to 17.3% with 200 nm thick layer), which strongly influences the central wavelength of the laser, but moderately affects the pulse duration. It means, that choosing the SA with defined CNT thickness might be an efficient method for wavelength-tuning of the laser, without degrading the pulse duration. In our setup, the best performance in terms of bandwidth and pulse duration (8.5 nm and 501 fs, respectively) were obtained with 100 nm thick CNT layer. This is also, to our knowledge, the first demonstration of a fully polarization-maintaining mode-locked Tm-doped laser based on CNT saturable absorber.
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30
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Lilienfein N, Hofer C, Holzberger S, Matzer C, Zimmermann P, Trubetskov M, Pervak V, Pupeza I. Enhancement cavities for few-cycle pulses. OPTICS LETTERS 2017; 42:271-274. [PMID: 28081090 DOI: 10.1364/ol.42.000271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
We address the challenge of increasing the bandwidth of high-finesse femtosecond enhancement cavities and demonstrate a broad spectrum spanning 1800 cm-1 (195 nm) at -10 dB around a central wavelength of 1050 nm in an EC with an average finesse exceeding 300. This will benefit a host of spectroscopic applications, including transient absorption spectroscopy, direct frequency comb spectroscopy, and Raman spectroscopy. The pulse circulating in the EC is composed of only 5.4 optical cycles, at a kilowatt-level average power. Together with a suitable gating technique, this paves the way to the efficient generation of multi-megahertz-repetition-rate isolated extreme ultraviolet attosecond pulses via intracavity high-order harmonic generation.
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