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Optical Frequency Comb as a general-purpose and wide-band calibration source for astronomical high resolution infrared spectrographs

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Abstract

A spectrally filtered Optical Frequency Comb (OFC) laser is proposed as a versatile calibration source for astronomical spectrometers in the 1–2 μm spectral range. Such a source overcomes the limitations of current calibration lamps providing a uniform spectrum of equally spaced lines with similar intensity and extremely high long-term frequency stability. We present preliminary studies and results of a system which filters the OFC from a 100 MHz comb spacing to 16 GHz one, an adequate spacing for spectrometers with resolving power Δλ/λ >30000. The first approach employs two Fabry-Perot cavities in series, made of dielectric coated mirrors, followed by a non-linear optical broadening system. The limitations of such a filtering process are discussed. These can be overcome by the second approach, based on filtering cavities with metallic coated mirrors.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dipartimento di Fisica e Astronomia, Via Sansone 1, 50019, Sesto Fiorentino (Fi), Italy

    Giulia Schettino & Massimo Inguscio

  2. INAF-Oss. Astrofisico di Arcetri, Largo E. Fermi 5, 50125, Firenze, Italy

    Giulia Schettino, Ernesto Oliva, Carlo Baffa, Elisabetta Giani & Andrea Tozzi

  3. LENS, Via Carrara 1, 50019, Sesto Fiorentino (Fi), Italy

    Massimo Inguscio & Pablo Cancio Pastor

  4. INO-CNR, Largo E. Fermi 6, Firenze, 50125, Italy

    Massimo Inguscio & Pablo Cancio Pastor

Authors
  1. Giulia Schettino
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  2. Ernesto Oliva
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  3. Massimo Inguscio
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  4. Carlo Baffa
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  5. Elisabetta Giani
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  6. Andrea Tozzi
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  7. Pablo Cancio Pastor
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Correspondence to Giulia Schettino.

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Schettino, G., Oliva, E., Inguscio, M. et al. Optical Frequency Comb as a general-purpose and wide-band calibration source for astronomical high resolution infrared spectrographs. Exp Astron 31, 69–81 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10686-011-9232-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10686-011-9232-7

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