title: Broadband degenerate OPO for mid-infrared frequency comb generation.
abstract: We present a new technique suitable for generating broadband phase- and frequency-locked frequency combs in the mid-infrared. Our source is based on a degenerate optical parametric oscillator (OPO) which rigorously both down-converts and augments the spectrum of a pump frequency comb provided by a commercial mode-locked near-IR laser. Low intracavity dispersion, combined with extensive cross-mixing of comb components, results in extremely broad instantaneous mid-IR bandwidths. We achieve an output power of 60 mW and 20 dB bandwidth extending from 2500 to 3800 nm. Among other applications, such a source is well-suited for coherent Fourier-transform spectroscopy in the absorption-rich mid-IR 'molecular fingerprint' region.
authors: EL Ginzton Laboratory, Stanford University, Stanford CA, 94305, USA. nick.leindecker@stanford.edu
authors: Nick
authors: N
authors: Leindecker
authors: Alireza
authors: A
authors: Marandi
authors: Robert L
authors: RL
authors: Byer
authors: Konstantin L
authors: KL
authors: Vodopyanov
mesh_terms: D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D005374:Filtration / Q000295:instrumentation*; D007259:Infrared Rays; D007834:Lasers; D009991:Oscillometry / Q000295:instrumentation*; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared / Q000295:instrumentation*