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Characterisation of the potential of frequency modulation and optical feedback locking for cavity-enhanced absorption spectroscopy

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Abstract

A combination of optical feedback self-locking of a continuous-wave distributed feedback diode laser to a V-shaped high finesse cavity, laser phase modulation at a frequency equal to the free spectral range of the V-cavity and detection of the transmitted laser beam at this high modulation frequency is described for the possible application in cavity-enhanced absorption spectroscopy. In order to estimate the noise level of an absorbance baseline, the triplet of frequency modulated light, i.e. the central laser frequency and the two sidebands, were transmitted through both the V-cavity in open air and a 1.5-cm long optical cell placed behind the cavity output mirror and filled with acetylene (C2H2) at low pressure. The performance of the setup was evaluated from the measured relative intensity noise on the cavity output (normalised by the bandwidth) and the frequency modulation absorption signals induced by C2H2 absorption in the 1.5-cm cell. From these data, we estimate that the noise-equivalent absorption sensitivity of 2.1 × 10−11 cm−1 Hz−1/2—by a factor of 11.7 above the shot-noise limit—can be achieved for C2H2 absorption spectra extracted from the heterodyne beat signals recorded at the transmission maxima intensity peaks of the successive TEM00 resonances.

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Acknowledgments

The research was supported by the European Commission within a Marie-Curie experienced researcher Intra-European Fellowship Award to V. Kasyutich (Kasiutsich). We also acknowledge the support by ETH Zurich and are very grateful to K.M.C. Hans, J. Kottmann, J.M. Rey and M. Gianella for their help and support during this project.

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  1. Vasili L. Kasyutich

    Present address: Servomex Technical Centre, Jarvis Brook, Crowborough, East Sussex, TN6 3FB, UK

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physics, Institute for Quantum Electronics, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland

    Vasili L. Kasyutich & Markus W. Sigrist

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  1. Vasili L. Kasyutich
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  2. Markus W. Sigrist
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Correspondence to Markus W. Sigrist.

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Kasyutich, V.L., Sigrist, M.W. Characterisation of the potential of frequency modulation and optical feedback locking for cavity-enhanced absorption spectroscopy. Appl. Phys. B 111, 341–349 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00340-013-5338-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00340-013-5338-0

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