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Sensitivity and resolution in frequency comb spectroscopy of buffer gas cooled polyatomic molecules

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Abstract

We discuss the use of cavity-enhanced direct frequency comb spectroscopy in the mid-infrared region with buffer gas cooling of polyatomic molecules for high-precision rovibrational absorption spectroscopy. A frequency comb coupled to an optical enhancement cavity allows us to collect high-resolution, broad-bandwidth infrared spectra of translationally and rotationally cold (10–20 K) gas-phase molecules with high absorption sensitivity and fast acquisition times. The design and performance of the combined apparatus are discussed in detail. Recorded rovibrational spectra in the CH stretching region of several organic molecules, including vinyl bromide (CH\(_2\)CHBr), adamantane (C\(_{10}\)H\(_{16}\)), and diamantane (C\(_{14}\)H\(_{20}\)) demonstrate the resolution and sensitivity of this technique, as well as the intrinsic challenges faced in extending the frontier of high-resolution spectroscopy to large complex molecules.

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Acknowledgements

We dedicate this paper to Ted Hänsch, who has pioneered the field of laser spectroscopy in general and optical frequency combs in particular. This research was funded by DARPA SCOUT, AFOSR, NIST, and NSF-JILA PFC. P.B.C. is supported by the NSF GRFP (Award no. DGE1144083). B.S. is supported through an NRC Postdoctoral Fellowship. D.P. and J.M.D. acknowledge additional support from the NSF. We would like to thank Matthew Radzihovsky for experimental assistance at JILA.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. JILA, National Institute of Standards and Technology and University of Colorado, Department of Physics, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, 80309, USA

    P. Bryan Changala, Ben Spaun & Jun Ye

  2. Department of Physics, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA

    David Patterson & John M. Doyle

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  1. P. Bryan Changala
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  2. Ben Spaun
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Correspondence to P. Bryan Changala.

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This article is part of the topical collection “Enlightening the World with the Laser” - Honoring T. W. Hänsch guest edited by Tilman Esslinger, Nathalie Picqué, and Thomas Udem.

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Changala, P.B., Spaun, B., Patterson, D. et al. Sensitivity and resolution in frequency comb spectroscopy of buffer gas cooled polyatomic molecules . Appl. Phys. B 122, 292 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00340-016-6569-7

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