All solid state mid-infrared dual-comb spectroscopy platform based on QCL technology

Andreas Hugi; Markus Geiser; Gustavo Villares; Francesco Cappelli; Stephane Blaser; Jérôme Faist

doi:10.1117/12.2084967

8 February 2015 All solid state mid-infrared dual-comb spectroscopy platform based on QCL technology

Andreas Hugi, Markus Geiser, Gustavo Villares, Francesco Cappelli, Stephane Blaser, Jérôme Faist

Proceedings Volume 9370, Quantum Sensing and Nanophotonic Devices XII; 93701I (2015) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2084967
Event: SPIE OPTO, 2015, San Francisco, California, United States

Abstract

We develop a spectroscopy platform for industrial applications based on semiconductor quantum cascade laser (QCL) frequency combs. The platform’s key features will be an unmatched combination of bandwidth of 100 cm^-1, resolution of 100 kHz, speed of ten to hundreds of μs as well as size and robustness, opening doors to beforehand unreachable markets. The sensor can be built extremely compact and robust since the laser source is an all-electrically pumped semiconductor optical frequency comb and no mechanical elements are required. However, the parallel acquisition of dual-comb spectrometers comes at the price of enormous data-rates. For system scalability, robustness and optical simplicity we use free-running QCL combs. Therefore no complicated optical locking mechanisms are required. To reach high signal-to-noise ratios, we develop an algorithm, which is based on combination of coherent and non-coherent averaging. This algorithm is specifically optimized for free-running and small footprint, therefore high-repetition rate, comb sources. As a consequence, our system generates data-rates of up to 3.2 GB/sec. These data-rates need to be reduced by several orders of magnitude in real-time in order to be useful for spectral fitting algorithms. We present the development of a data-treatment solution, which reaches a single-channel throughput of 22% using a standard laptop-computer. Using a state-of-the art desktop computer, the throughput is increased to 43%. This is combined with a data-acquisition board to a stand-alone data processing unit, allowing real-time industrial process observation and continuous averaging to achieve highest signal fidelity.

Citation Download Citation

Andreas Hugi, Markus Geiser, Gustavo Villares, Francesco Cappelli, Stephane Blaser, and Jérôme Faist "All solid state mid-infrared dual-comb spectroscopy platform based on QCL technology", Proc. SPIE 9370, Quantum Sensing and Nanophotonic Devices XII, 93701I (8 February 2015); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2084967

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available