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Updated: May 21, 2026
Generation and Coherent Control of Pulsed Quantum Frequency Combs
Published on: June 8, 2018
Frequency characterization of a swept- and fixed-wavelength external-cavity quantum cascade laser by use of a
Kevin Knabe1, Paul A Williams, Fabrizio R Giorgetta
1National Institute of Standards and Technology, Optoelectronics Division, 325 Broadway, Boulder, Colorado 80305, USA. kevin.knabe@nist.gov
Abstract:
The instantaneous optical frequency of an external-cavity quantum cascade laser (QCL) is characterized by comparison to a near-infrared frequency comb. Fluctuations in the instantaneous optical frequency are analyzed to determine the frequency-noise power spectral density for the external-cavity QCL both during fixed-wavelength and swept-wavelength operation. The noise performance of a near-infrared external-cavity diode laser is measured for comparison. In addition to providing basic frequency metrology of external-cavity QCLs, this comb-calibrated swept QCL system can be applied to rapid, precise broadband spectroscopy in the mid-infrared spectral region.
