Singly resonant optical parametric oscillators with pump-modulation transfer for frequency modulated spectroscopy in the mid-infrared

Ian D. Lindsay; Petra Groß; Chris J. Lee; Balaji Adhimoolam; Klaus-Jochen Boller

doi:10.1117/12.700240

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14 February 2007 Singly resonant optical parametric oscillators with pump-modulation transfer for frequency modulated spectroscopy in the mid-infrared

Ian D. Lindsay, Petra Groß, Chris J. Lee, Balaji Adhimoolam, Klaus-Jochen Boller

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Proceedings Volume 6455, Nonlinear Frequency Generation and Conversion: Materials, Devices, and Applications VI; 64550P (2007) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.700240
Event: Lasers and Applications in Science and Engineering, 2007, San Jose, California, United States

Abstract

Frequency modulation (FM) techniques are well known methods for improving signal-to-noise ratios in laser spectroscopy. Such techniques have proven particularly effective with diode lasers due to the ease with which they can be frequency modulated via their injection current. Although singly-resonant optical parametric oscillators (OPOs) are flexible, powerful and widely-tunable sources for mid-infrared laser spectroscopy, the utilization of FM techniques with OPOs suffers from the inconvenience of requiring an external mid-IR modulator. As a consequence, FM techniques have not been implemented with such devices. In this paper we describe the implementation of wavelength-modulation spectroscopy (WMS) and frequency-modulation spectroscopy (FMS) using a singly-resonant OPO pumped by a fiber-amplified diode laser. The OPO was capable of producing output powers of up to 1W in the 3.15-3.8 &mgr;m range with continuous tuning over >100GHz on millisecond timescales. Frequency modulation, via injection current, of the diode laser transferred directly to the OPO's idler output, allowing mid-IR FM to be achieved without external modulation devices. WMS and FMS spectra of methane were then recorded, clearly demonstrating that this approach provides a means of implementing these important techniques with powerful, widely tunable, mid-IR sources while retaining the simple, flexible modulation properties of diode lasers.

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Ian D. Lindsay, Petra Groß, Chris J. Lee, Balaji Adhimoolam, and Klaus-Jochen Boller "Singly resonant optical parametric oscillators with pump-modulation transfer for frequency modulated spectroscopy in the mid-infrared", Proc. SPIE 6455, Nonlinear Frequency Generation and Conversion: Materials, Devices, and Applications VI, 64550P (14 February 2007); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.700240

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