VECSEL-based virtually imaged phased array spectrometer for rapid gas phase detection in the mid-infrared

Abstract

We present a novel, to the best of our knowledge, system for high-resolution, time-resolved spectroscopy in the mid-wave infrared based on a modelocked vertical external cavity surface emitting laser (VECSEL) frequency comb coupled to a virtually imaged phased array (VIPA) spectrometer. The GHz level repetition rate of VECSEL-based systems coupled to VIPA spectrometers enables comb tooth resolved spectra without the use of additional filter cavities often required to increase comb tooth spacing. We demonstrate absorption spectroscopy on a methane ( C H 4 ) gas mixture at 2900 c m − 1 (3.4 µm) with over 35 c m − 1 spectral bandwidth in a single image. Rapid time-resolved measurements were made using a 300 µs exposure time with an acquisition rate limited to 125 Hz by the available camera. High-resolution absolute frequency measurements were performed by scanning the repetition rate of the VECSEL frequency comb.

Document Details

Document Type
Pub Defense Publication
Publication Date
Oct 13, 2020
Source ID
10.1364/ol.405192

Entities

People

  • Jerome V. Moloney
  • R. Jason Jones
  • Ricky Gibson
  • Robert Rockmore

Organizations

  • Air Force Office of Scientific Research

Tags

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Image Processing and Computer Vision.
  • Optical Physics and Photonics.

Technology Areas

  • Directed Energy
  • Directed Energy - Lasers
  • Space
  • Space - Space Objects