Coherent frequency combs for spectroscopy across the 3-5μm region

D. L. Maser, G. Ycas, W. I. Depetri, F. C. Cruz, S. A. Diddams

Abstract

A tunable mid-infrared frequency comb was created via difference frequency generation. Pulses between 1 and 1.5 µm were mixed to generate light ranging from 2.6 to 5.2 µm. Two such combs were heterodyned at 5 µm to show their coherence and potential for spectroscopy. The properties of the comb were modeled using numerical simulation, which confirmed the observed bandwidths.