Optical frequency combs helped define a new era of precision molecular spectroscopy. We currently use optical combs as both metrology tools, as well as for direct molecular spectroscopy. As a metrology tool, combs act as absolute optical frequency references to which continuous-wave lasers can be compared and phase-locked. When used to perform direct comb spectroscopy, broadband spectra can be retrieved at 100 kHz acquisition rates, and therefore transient and time-resolved phenomena can be examined with high precision. Opportunities currently exist to perform comb-assisted and/or direct comb spectroscopy in the near- and/or mid-infrared. Potential applications include time-resolved chemical kinetics of atmospherically relevant free radicals, the trace detection of radiocarbon dioxide (¹⁴CO₂), and the precision validation of advanced lineshape models and other reference data.

 

References

Fleisher AJ, et al: “Mid-infrared time-resolved frequency comb spectroscopy of transient free radicals.” Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters 5: 2241-2246, 2014

Long DA, et al: “Multiheterodyne spectroscopy with optical frequency combs generated from a continuous wave laser.” Optics Letters 39: 2688-2690, 2014

 

Keywords:

Frequency combs; Spectroscopy; Phase stabilization; Chemical kinetics; Ultrafast; Optical cavities; Fiber optics; Electro-optic modulators; Lasers;

Citizenship:  Open to U.S. citizens

Level:  Open to Postdoctoral applicants