Plural-COMB

About

BACKGROUND Spectroscopic sensing techniques have been applied to virtually all fields of science and technology. Optical spectroscopy is used to routinely identify extremely low chemical compositions of matter, such as trace elements of pollutants or contaminants. Optical Frequency Combs enable users to measure samples with high accuracy, and have permitted a wide range of scientific and technical advances. Optical dual frequency comb instruments are typically: • expensive (est. >$150k p/unit) • inherently large • complex by design to achieve mutual coherence. TECHNOLOGY Researchers at the University of South Australia, in collaboration with the Universite Laval (Canada), have developed a standalone, compact, and free-running dual-comb spectrometer based on two passively mode-locked waveguide lasers, integrated into a single glass chip. This inherently stable and simplified system achieves fully resolved comb modes (spaced at ~800 MHz). This can be done by real-time tracking and correction of residual drifts while bypassing the use of inherently complex and unreliable single frequency lasers, external signals, or control electronics. The result of this technological breakthrough offers unmatched levels of spectral resolution accuracy, simplicity, and stability in dual-comb spectroscopy. As a consequence, we anticipate the production of an entire system for a fraction of the cost and size of existing, comparative instruments.