Broadband background-free vibrational spectroscopy using a mode-locked Cr:ZnS laser

Background-free correlation spectroscopy using an infrared mode-locked laser

The recent advances in infrared laser technology are expanding the capabilities and applications of vibrational spectroscopy. A promising approach utilizing broadband infrared mode-locked lasers is background-free (BF) absorption spectroscopy. This method captures the free-induction decay (FID) of excited molecules while suppressing the background light. It is unique in that the signal strength increases with input optical power but eventually struggles with detector noise when targeting fewer molecules. In this paper, we present a novel method of multiplexed background-free spectroscopy using a spectral mask whose transmittance has a strong correlation with the absorption spectrum of a target molecule. We successfully demonstrate an order of magnitude increase in the sensitivity due to multiplexing as well as a high molecular contrast due to the spectral correlation. The presented results indicate the promising potential of the method for sensitive and selective detection of trace molecules.

Optical-parametric-amplification-enhanced background-free spectroscopy

Traditional absorption spectroscopy has a fundamental difficulty in resolving small absorbance from a strong background due to the instability of laser sources. Existing background-free methods in broadband vibrational spectroscopy help to alleviate this problem but face challenges in realizing either low extinction ratios or time-resolved field measurements. Here, we introduce optical-parametric-amplification-enhanced background-free spectroscopy, in which the excitation background is first suppressed by an interferometer, and then the free-induction decay that carries molecular signatures is selectively amplified. We show that this method can improve the limit of detection in linear interferometry by order(s) of magnitude without requiring lower extinction ratios or a time-resolved measurement, which can benefit sensing applications in detecting trace species.

Background-reduced spectral peak generation using a nonlinear loop mirror with a gas cell

Spectral peaking in an optical fiber is a useful phenomenon for comb mode filtering and wavelength standards. However, for highly sensitive spectroscopic applications, it is important to suppress the pedestal components. Here we propose and demonstrate pedestal-suppressed spectral peak generation using a nonlinear fiber loop mirror with a molecular gas cell. The physical mechanism and fundamental properties were investigated numerically, and the output characteristics were examined experimentally. Almost background-free spectral peaks were generated successfully in the 1.65-µm wavelength range using a CH4 gas cell. The maximum signal-to-background ratio was more than 30 dB. Stable operation without any feedback control was achieved. It is expected that the proposed method is useful for highly sensitive spectroscopic applications.

Broadband dispersion spectroscopy using interferometric phase modulation under background light suppression

This Letter presents a dispersion spectroscopy method that achieves simultaneous detection of molecular vibrational dispersion over a broad spectral range. The method is implemented with an infrared mode-locked laser, a dispersion-compensated Michelson interferometer, and a multichannel detector. Synchronous detection under interferometric phase modulation near the destructive interference condition is employed to achieve a high signal-to-noise ratio. We successfully demonstrate the method by measuring the dispersion of carbon monoxide gas, achieving a noise-equivalent dispersion of 1.3 × 10-8 cm and a corresponding noise-equivalent absorbance of 6.5 × 10-4 with a measurement time of 2.2 s.

Frequency modes filtering of spectral peaks in optical frequency combs through molecular gas absorption and nonlinear polarization rotation

Spectral peak generation is a recently reported phenomenon that narrow spectral dips of the optical spectrum turn into sharp peaks as they propagate through nonlinear optical fibers. We demonstrated the nonlinear polarization rotation-based spectral peak mode filtering to increase the signal-to-background ratio (SBR). The spectral peaks with almost constant frequency separation were generated from the femtosecond pulses absorbed by the CH4 gas through the highly nonlinear fiber. The generated spectral peaks were filtered through the polarizing beam splitter by the nonlinear polarization rotation, and the SBR was improved from 9 dB to ∼20 dB. The spectral peak generation phenomenon and the mode filtering were numerically confirmed by solving the coupled nonlinear Schrödinger equations. The demonstrated method can generate strong comb modes with wide frequency spacing which are useful for highly sensitive environmental gas sensing spectroscopy. The wavelengths of the spectral peaks are fixed by the absorption spectra of the used gas cells. Therefore, this method can generate high quality spectral peaks of any wavelengths with wide spectral ranges through proper combinations of gas cells.

Low-noise, 2-W average power, 112-fs Kerr-lens mode-locked Ho:CALGO laser at 2.1 µm

We report on an in-band pumped soft-aperture Kerr-lens mode-locked Ho³⁺-doped CaGdAlO₄ (Ho:CALGO) bulk laser at 2.1 µm, generating 2 W of average power with 112 fs pulses at 91-MHz repetition rate. To the best of our knowledge, this is the highest average power from a 100-fs class mode-locked laser based on a Tm³⁺ or Ho³⁺ doped bulk material. We show that the laser has excellent noise properties, with an integrated relative intensity noise of 0.02% and a timing jitter of 950 fs (rms phase noise 0.543 mrad) in the integration interval from 10 Hz to 10 MHz of offset frequency. The demonstrated combination of high average power, short pulses, and low noise makes this an outstanding laser source for many applications at 2.1 µm.