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A QCL-based metrological-grade source at 6 μm

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Abstract

In view of high-precision molecular spectroscopy in the infrared, we realized a narrow-linewidth laser source at 5.8 \(\upmu\)m traceable to the second in the International System of Units by mixing two near-infrared lasers in an orientation-patterned GaP crystal. The generated radiation is traceable to a Cs fountain through an optical fiber-delivered carrier; its estimated linewidth is 2.3 kHz at 1 s integration time. A quantum cascade laser emitting at the same wavelength is used to boost the power of the mid-IR radiation up to few tens of mW. Thanks to a phase-locking loop, about 70% of the quantum cascade laser output power is within the linewidth of the difference-frequency radiation. This apparatus is used for absolute molecular spectroscopy in a region, above 5 \(\upmu\)m, where high-precision traceability and reliable operation are still challenging. In this paper, we provide the basic information to implement a powerful and metrological grade source in the mid-infrared for precision measurements.

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Acknowledgements

The authors gratefully acknowledge dr. Samuel Meek for designing and providing the balanced photodiodes.

Funding

This work was partially funded by INFN under the SUPREMO project and Ente Cassa di Risparmio di Firenze under the COSMO project.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Istituto Nazionale di Ottica, INO-CNR, and European Laboratory for Nonlinear Spectroscopy, LENS, Via Nello Carrara 1, 50019, Sesto Fiorentino, Firenze, Italy

    D. D’Ambrosio, S. Borri, P. De Natale, M. De Pas, G. Insero, M. Verde & G. Santambrogio

  2. Istituto Nazionale di Ricerca Metrologica, INRIM, Strada delle Cacce 91, 10135, Torino, Italy

    D. D’Ambrosio, D. Calonico, C. Clivati, F. Levi & G. Santambrogio

  3. Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, INFN, Sezione di Firenze, Via G. Sansone 1, 50019, Sesto Fiorentino, Firenze, Italy

    S. Borri, P. De Natale & G. Santambrogio

  4. Fritz-Haber-Institut der Max-Planck-Gesellschaft, Faradayweg 4-6, 14195, Berlin, Germany

    M. De Pas

  5. European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC), Karlsruhe, Germany

    G. Insero

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  1. D. D’Ambrosio
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Correspondence to S. Borri.

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D’Ambrosio, D., Borri, S., Calonico, D. et al. A QCL-based metrological-grade source at 6 μm. Appl. Phys. B 126, 41 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00340-020-7388-4

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