Intensity Noise Optimization of a Mid-Infrared Frequency Comb Difference Frequency Generation Source

We experimentally demonstrate in a difference-frequency generation mid-infrared frequency comb source the effect of temporal overlap between pump- and signal- pulse to the relative intensity noise (RIN) of the idler pulse. When scanning the temporal delay between our 130 fs long signal- and pump pulses, we observe a RIN minimum with a 3 dB width of 20 fs delay and an RIN increase of 20 dB in 40 fs delay at the edges of this minimum. We also demonstrate active long-term stabilization of the mid-infrared frequency comb source to the temporal overlap setting corresponding to the lowest RIN operation point by an on-line RIN-detector and active feedback control of the pump-signal- pulse delay. This active stabilization set-up allowed us to dramatically increase the signal-to-noise ratio of mid-infrared absorption spectra

Ultrahigh resolution optical coherence tomography using a superluminescent light source

A superluminescent Ti:Al2O3 crystal is demonstrated as a light source for ultrahigh resolution optical coherence tomography (OCT). Single spatial mode, fiber coupled output powers of ~40 μW can be generated with 138 nm bandwidth using a 5 W frequency doubled, diode pumped laser, pumping a thin Ti:Al2O3 crystal. Ultrahigh resolution OCT imaging is demonstrated with 2.2 μm axial resolution in air, or 1.7 μm in tissue, with >86 dB sensitivity. This light source provides a simple and robust alternative to femtosecond lasers for ultrahigh resolution OCT imaging

Widely-tunable mid-IR frequency comb source based on difference frequency generation

We report on a mid-infrared frequency comb source of unprecedented tunability covering the entire 3-10 {\mu}m molecular fingerprint region. The system is based on difference frequency generation in a GaSe crystal pumped by a 151 MHz Yb:fiber frequency comb. The process was seeded with Raman shifted solitons generated in a highly nonlinear suspended-core fiber with the same source. Average powers up to 1.5 mW were achieved at 4.7 {\mu}m wavelength.Comment: 3 pages, 3 figure

Transverse and longitudinal characterization of electron beams using interaction with optical near-fields

We demonstrate an experimental technique for both transverse and longitudinal characterization of bunched femtosecond free electron beams. The operation principle is based on monitoring of the current of electrons that obtained an energy gain during the interaction with the synchronized optical near-field wave excited by femtosecond laser pulses. The synchronous accelerating/decelerating fields confined to the surface of a silicon nanostructure are characterized using a highly focused sub-relativistic electron beam. Here the transverse spatial resolution of 450 nm and femtosecond temporal resolution achievable by this technique are demonstrated

Self-broadening and self-shift in the 3ν2\mathbf{3\nu_{2}} band of ammonia from mid-infrared-frequency-comb spectroscopy

We report the broadband absorption spectrum of the $3\nu_{2}$ band of $^{14}$NH$_{3}$ near 4 $\mu m$. The data were recorded using a mid-infrared frequency comb coupled to a homebuilt Fourier-transform spectrometer with a resolution of 0.00501 $cm^{-1}$. Line positions, line intensities, self-broadening, and self-shift parameters for six rovibrational lines were determined at room temperature ($T=296$ K). Comparison with HITRAN 2016 shows good agreement at improved precision. The high precision and the rapid tunability of our experiment enables advanced fast spectroscopy of molecular gases

Phase-stabilized, 1.5-W frequency comb at 2.8 to 4.8 micron

We present a high-power optical parametric oscillator-based frequency comb in the mid-infrared wavelength region using periodically poled lithium niobate. The system is synchronously pumped by a 10-W femtosecond Yb:fiber laser centered at 1.07 um and is singly resonant for the signal. The idler (signal) wavelength can be continuously tuned from 2.8 to 4.8 um (1.76 to 1.37 um) with a simultaneous bandwidth as high as 0.3 um and a maximum average idler output power of 1.50 W. We also demonstrate the performance of the stabilized comb by recording the heterodyne beat with a narrow-linewidth diode laser. This OPO is an ideal source for frequency comb spectroscopy in the mid-IR.Comment: 4 figure

Octave-spanning ultrafast OPO with 2.6-6.1µm instantaneous bandwidth pumped by femtosecond Tm-fiber laser

We report the extension of broadband degenerate OPO operation further into mid-infrared. A femtosecond thulium fiber laser with output centered at 2050 nm synchronously pumps a 500-μm-long crystal of orientation patterned GaAs providing broadband gain centered at 4.1 µm. We observe a pump threshold of 17 mW and output bandwidth extending from 2.6 to 6.1 µm at the −30 dB level. Average output power was 37 mW. Appropriate resonator group dispersion is a key factor for achieving degenerate operation with instantaneously broad bandwidth. The output spectrum is very sensitive to absorption and dispersion introduced by molecular species inside the OPO cavity