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Updated: Apr 6, 2026

Generation and Coherent Control of Pulsed Quantum Frequency Combs
Published on: June 8, 2018
High density terahertz frequency comb produced by coherent synchrotron radiation
11] AILES Beamline, Synchrotron SOLEIL, l'Orme des Merisiers, Saint-Aubin, Gif-sur-Yvette 91192, France [2] Laboratoire de Physico-Chimie de l'Atmosphère, Université du Littoral Côte d'Opale, EA4493 CNRS, 189A Avenue Maurice Schumann, Dunkerque 59140, France.
Abstract:
Frequency combs have enabled significant progress in frequency metrology and high-resolution spectroscopy extending the achievable resolution while increasing the signal-to-noise ratio. In its coherent mode, synchrotron radiation is accepted to provide an intense terahertz continuum covering a wide spectral range from about 0.1 to 1 THz. Using a dedicated heterodyne receiver, we reveal the purely discrete nature of this emission. A phase relationship between the light pulses leads to a powerful frequency comb spanning over one decade in frequency. The comb has a mode spacing of 846 kHz, a linewidth of about 200 Hz, a fractional precision of about 2 × 10(-10) and no frequency offset. The unprecedented potential of the comb for high-resolution spectroscopy is demonstrated by the accurate determination of pure rotation transitions of acetonitrile.
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