Optical-optical double-resonance dual-comb spectroscopy with pump-intensity modulation.

We apply an intensity-modulation technique to dual-comb spectroscopy to improve its detection sensitivity. The scheme is demonstrated via Doppler-free optical-optical double-resonance spectroscopy of Rb by modulating the intensity of a pump laser with frequencies set at rates 3 times lower and 50,000 times higher than the difference in the repetition rates of the two frequency combs. The signal-to-noise ratios are enhanced by 3 and 6 times for slow and fast modulations, respectively, compared to those of conventional dual-comb spectroscopy without any intensity modulation. The technique is widely applicable to pump-probe spectroscopy with dual-comb spectroscopy and provides high detection sensitivity.

Doppler-free dual-comb spectroscopy of Rb using optical-optical double resonance technique.

We present a Doppler-free high-resolution dual-comb spectroscopy technique in which a dual-comb system is employed to perform optical-optical double-resonance (OODR) spectroscopy. In our experimental study, Doppler-free high-resolution and high-frequency-accuracy broadband measurements were realized using the proposed OODR dual-comb spectroscopic technique, which does not require high-power-per-mode frequency combs. We observed fully resolved hyperfine spectra of 5P3/2 - 4D5/2, 4D3/2 transitions of Rb at 1530 nm and precisely determined the absolute frequencies of the transitions, with an uncertainty of less than 1 MHz. The variations of the OODR spectral line shapes due to power broadening and alignment and the effects of polarization on the dual-comb OODR spectra were also analyzed. This study provides a widely applicable technique for Doppler-free dual-comb spectroscopy of various gaseous species.

Generation of a frequency comb spanning more than 3.6 octaves from ultraviolet to mid infrared.

We have observed an ultra-broadband frequency comb with a wavelength range of at least 0.35 to 4.4 µm in a ridge-waveguide-type periodically poled lithium niobate device. The PPLN waveguide is pumped by a 1.0-2.4 µm wide frequency comb with an average power of 120 mW generated using an erbium-based mode-locked fiber laser and a following highly nonlinear fiber. The coherence of the extended comb is confirmed in both the visible (around 633 nm) and the mid-infrared regions.

Ortho-Para-Dependent Pressure Effects Observed in the Near Infrared Band of Acetylene by Dual-Comb Spectroscopy.

We demonstrate that dual-comb spectroscopy, which allows one to record broadband spectra with high frequency accuracy in a relatively short time, provides a real advantage for the observation of pressure-broadening and pressure-shift effects. We illustrate this with the ν_{1}+ν_{3} vibration band of ^{12}C_{2}H_{2}. We observe transitions from P(26) to R(29), which extend over a 3.8 THz frequency range, at six pressures ranging up to 2654 Pa. Each observed absorption line profile is fitted to a Voigt function yielding pressure-broadening and pressure-shift coefficients for each rotation-vibration transition. The effectiveness of this technique is such that we are able to discern a clear dependence of the pressure-broadening coefficients on the nuclear spin state, i.e., on the ortho or para modification. This information, combined with the pressure-shift coefficients, can facilitate a detailed understanding of the mechanism of molecular collisions.

Near-infrared broadband dual-frequency-comb spectroscopy with a resolution beyond the Fourier limit determined by the observation time window.

We performed broadband dual-frequency-comb spectroscopy in the near-infrared region with a much higher resolution than the Fourier limit by using discrete Fourier transforms and spectral interleaving. We observed the resonant spectrum of a Fabry-Perot cavity over a spectral range of 187 to 218 THz using this technique, and measured its free spectral ranges and finesses. The recorded spectrum includes cavity resonance lines with widths of about 2 MHz, which is much narrower than the resolution of 48 MHz determined by the observation time window.

Compact iodine-stabilized laser operating at 531 nm with stability at the 10(-12) level and using a coin-sized laser module.

We demonstrate a compact iodine-stabilized laser operating at 531 nm using a coin-sized light source consisting of a 1062-nm distributed-feedback diode laser and a frequency-doubling element. A hyperfine transition of molecular iodine is observed using the light source with saturated absorption spectroscopy. The light source is frequency stabilized to the observed iodine transition and achieves frequency stability at the 10(-12) level. The absolute frequency of the compact laser stabilized to the a(1) hyperfine component of the R(36)32 - 0 transition is determined as 564074632419(8) kHz with a relative uncertainty of 1.4×10(-11). The iodine-stabilized laser can be used for various applications including interferometric measurements.

Frequency ratio measurement of 171Yb and 87Sr optical lattice clocks.

The frequency ratio of the (1)S(0)(F = 1/2)-(3)P(0)(F = 1/2) clock transition in (171)Yb and the (1)S(0)(F = 9/2)-(3)P(0)(F = 9/2) clock transition in (87)Sr is measured by an optical-optical direct frequency link between two optical lattice clocks. We determined the ratio (ν(Yb)/ν(Sr)) to be 1.207 507 039 343 341 2(17) fractional standard uncertainty of 1.4 × 10(-15) [corrected]. The measurement uncertainty of the frequency ratio is smaller than that obtained from absolute frequency measurements using the International Atomic Time (TAI) link. The measured ratio agrees well with that derived from the absolute frequency measurement results obtained at NIST and JILA, Boulder, CO using their Cs-fountain clock. Our measurement enables the first international comparison of the frequency ratios of optical clocks. The measured frequency ratio will be reported to the International Committee for Weights and Measures for a discussion related to the redefinition of the second.

Errata: Frequency ratio measurement of 171Yb and 87Sr optical lattice clocks.

We correct the errors in the uncertainty budget. The determined ratio (νYb/νSr) is corrected to be 1.207 507 039 343 341 2(17) with a fractional standard uncertainty of 1.4 × 10-15.

Spectroscopy of 171Yb in an optical lattice based on laser linewidth transfer using a narrow linewidth frequency comb.

We propose a novel, high-performance, and practical laser source system for optical clocks. The laser linewidth of a fiber-based frequency comb is reduced by phase locking a comb mode to an ultrastable master laser at 1064 nm with a broad servo bandwidth. A slave laser at 578 nm is successively phase locked to a comb mode at 578 nm with a broad servo bandwidth without any pre-stabilization. Laser frequency characteristics such as spectral linewidth and frequency stability are transferred to the 578-nm slave laser from the 1064-nm master laser. Using the slave laser, we have succeeded in observing the clock transition of (171)Yb atoms confined in an optical lattice with a 20-Hz spectral linewidth.

Narrow linewidth laser system realized by linewidth transfer using a fiber-based frequency comb for the magneto-optical trapping of strontium.

A narrow linewidth diode laser system at 689 nm is realized by phase-locking an extended cavity diode laser to one tooth of a narrow linewidth optical frequency comb. The optical frequency comb is phase-locked to a narrow linewidth laser at 1064 nm, which is frequency stabilized to a high-finesse optical cavity. We demonstrate the magneto-optical trapping of Sr using an intercombination transition with the developed laser system.