Frequency-comb-referenced quantum-cascade laser at $4.4\mathrm{\mu }\mathrm{m}$

Abstract

We report what we believe to be the first absolute frequency measurement performed using a quantum-cascade laser (QCL) referenced to an optical frequency comb synthesizer (OFCS). A QCL at $4.43\mathrm{\mu }\mathrm{m}$ has been used for producing near-infrared radiation at $858\mathrm{nm}$ by means of sum-frequency generation with a $\mathrm{Nd}:\mathrm{YAG}$ source in a periodically poled lithium niobate nonlinear crystal. The absolute frequency of the QCL source has been measured by detecting the beat note between the sum frequency and a diode laser at the same wavelength, while both the $\mathrm{Nd}:\mathrm{YAG}$ and the diode laser were referenced to the OFCS. Doppler-broadened line profiles of ${}^{13}\mathrm{CO}_2$ molecular transitions have been recorded with such an absolute frequency reference.

© 2007 Optical Society of America

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