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European Quantum Electronics Conference (EQEC)

QCL frequency stabilization and measurement with 100 Hz - level linewidth, drift and inaccuracy, using a robust upconversion technique

Michael G. Hansen, E. Magoulakis, Q.-F. Chen, Ingo Ernsting, Stephan Schiller

Published Jun 21, 2015• 0 citations
OpenAlex

Abstract

The mid-infrared (MIR) spectral range (λ > 4.5 µm) is of interest in both applied and fundamental spectroscopy, for diverse applications such as trace gas detection and molecular frequency metrology. Approaches currently pursued for enabling MIR spectroscopy with accurate frequency control are based on generating the desired radiation by down-conversion, either of frequency combs or of cw near-infrared (NIR) sources. Such downconverted sources, however, typically have low power per frequency interval.

Related papers

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Science Advances•Apr 19, 2024•37 citations
The mid-infrared (MIR) spectral range (λ > 4.5 µm) is of interest in both applied and fundamental spectroscopy, for diverse applications such as trace gas detection and molecular frequency metrology. Approaches currently pursued for enabling MIR spectroscopy with accurate frequency control are based on generating the desired radiation by down-conversion, either of frequency combs or of cw near-infrared (NIR) sources. Such downconverted sources, however, typically have low power per frequency interval.
Promoting the sensitivity of mid-infrared (MIR) spectroscopy to the single-photon level is a critical need for investigating photosensitive biological samples and chemical reactions. MIR spectroscopy based on frequency upconversion is a compelling pioneer allowing high-efficiency MIR spectral measurement with well-developed single-photon detectors, which overcomes the main limitations of high thermal noise of current MIR detectors. However, noise from other nonlinear processes caused by strong pump fields hinders the development of the upconversion-based MIR spectroscopy to reach the single-photon level. Here, a broadband MIR single-photon frequency upconversion spectroscopy is demonstrated based on the temporal-spectral quantum correlation of non-degenerate photon pairs, which is well preserved in the frequency upconversion process and is fully used in extracting the signals from tremendous noise caused by the strong pump. A correlation spectrum broader than 660 nm is achieved and applied for the demonstration of sample identification under a low incident photon flux of 0.09 average photons per pulse. The system is featured with non-destructive and robust operation, which makes single-photon-level MIR spectroscopy an appealing option in biochemical applications.
Mid-infrared (MIR) imaging plays a pivotal role in chemical sensing, biomedicine, and material analysis, yet its further development is fundamentally constrained by limited room-temperature sensitivity and the lack of efficient multidimensional light-field control. In recent years, frequency upconversion imaging has emerged as a rapidly advancing approach that translates MIR signals to the visible or near-infrared domain, enabling high-sensitivity detection with mature, low-noise photonic platforms. More importantly, by engineering the pump field in nonlinear frequency conversion processes, a multidimensional imaging framework has been established, enabling indirect, all-optical encoding and retrieval of multiple degrees of freedom—including amplitude, phase, spectrum, time, and polarization—of MIR light fields. This paradigm shifts complex light-field manipulation from the MIR to technologically mature short-wavelength regimes, overcoming intrinsic limitations of conventional approaches. In this review, we systematically summarize the principles, architectures, and representative methodologies of MIR upconversion multidimensional imaging, and outline future directions toward high-sensitivity, high-dimensional, and integrated imaging systems, with implications extending to broader photonic and information processing domains.
We present a new method for accurate mid-infrared frequency measurements and stabilization to a near-infrared ultra-stable frequency reference, transmitted with a long-distance fibre link and continuously monitored against state-of-the- art atomic fountain clocks. We demonstrate the frequency stabilization of a mid-infrared laser with fractional stability better than 4x10(-1)4 at 1 s averaging. This new stabilization scheme gives us the ability to transfer frequency stability in the range of 10(-1)5 or even better, currently accessible in the near-infrared or in the visible, to mid-infrared lasers in a wide frequency range.
In the last years, the Mid Infrared (MIR) spectral region has attracted the attention of many areas of science and technology, opening the way to important applications, such as molecular imaging, remote sensing, free- space communication and environmental monitoring. However, the development of new sources of light, such as quantum cascade laser, was not followed by an adequate improvement in the MIR detection system, able to exceed the current challenges. Here we demonstrate the single-photon counting capability of a new detection system, based on efficient up-converter modules, by proving the correlated nature of twin photons pairs at about 3.1μm, opening the way to the extension of quantum optics experiments in the MIR.
Ultrasensitive spectroscopy is an essential component in mid-infrared (MIR) technology. However, the drawbacks of MIR detectors pose challenges to robust MIR spectroscopy at the single-photon level. We propose an MIR single-photon frequency upconversion spectroscopy nonlocally mapping the MIR information to the time domain. Broadband MIR photons from spontaneous parametric downconversion are frequency-upconverted to the near-infrared band with quantum correlation preservation. Via the group delay of fiber, the MIR spectral information within a 1.18-micrometer bandwidth of 2.76 to 3.94 micrometers is then successfully projected to arrival times of correlated photon pairs. Under the conditions of 6.4 × 10 6 photons per second illumination, the transmission spectra of polymers with single-photon sensitivity are demonstrated using single-pixel detectors. The developed approach circumvents scanning and frequency selection instability, which stands out for its inherent compatibility for evolving environments and scalability for various wavelengths. Because of its high sensitivity and robustness, characterization of biochemical samples and weak measurement of quantum systems are possible to foresee.