Mid-infrared optical frequency combs at 2.5 μm based on crystalline microresonators

TY - JOUR

T1 - Mid-infrared optical frequency combs at 2.5 μm based on crystalline microresonators

AU - Wang, C.Y.

AU - Herr, T.

AU - Del'Haye, P.

AU - Schliesser, Albert

AU - Hofer, J.

AU - Holzwarth, R.

AU - Hänsch, T.W.

AU - Picqué, N.

AU - Kippenberg, T.J.

PY - 2013/1/8

Y1 - 2013/1/8

N2 - The mid-infrared spectral range (λ∼2-20 μm) is of particular importance as many molecules exhibit strong vibrational fingerprints in this region. Optical frequency combs-broadband optical sources consisting of equally spaced and mutually coherent sharp lines-are creating new opportunities for advanced spectroscopy. Here we demonstrate a novel approach to create mid-infrared optical frequency combs via four-wave mixing in a continuous-wave pumped ultra-high Q crystalline microresonator made of magnesium fluoride. Careful choice of the resonator material and design made it possible to generate a broadband, low-phase noise Kerr comb at λ=2.5 μm spanning 200 nm (≈10 THz) with a line spacing of 100 GHz. With its distinguishing features of compactness, efficient conversion, large mode spacing and high power per comb line, this novel frequency comb source holds promise for new approaches to molecular spectroscopy and is suitable to be extended further into the mid-infrared.

AB - The mid-infrared spectral range (λ∼2-20 μm) is of particular importance as many molecules exhibit strong vibrational fingerprints in this region. Optical frequency combs-broadband optical sources consisting of equally spaced and mutually coherent sharp lines-are creating new opportunities for advanced spectroscopy. Here we demonstrate a novel approach to create mid-infrared optical frequency combs via four-wave mixing in a continuous-wave pumped ultra-high Q crystalline microresonator made of magnesium fluoride. Careful choice of the resonator material and design made it possible to generate a broadband, low-phase noise Kerr comb at λ=2.5 μm spanning 200 nm (≈10 THz) with a line spacing of 100 GHz. With its distinguishing features of compactness, efficient conversion, large mode spacing and high power per comb line, this novel frequency comb source holds promise for new approaches to molecular spectroscopy and is suitable to be extended further into the mid-infrared.

U2 - 10.1038/ncomms2335

DO - 10.1038/ncomms2335

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 23299895

SN - 2041-1723

VL - 4

JO - Nature Communications

JF - Nature Communications

M1 - 1345

ER -