Quantum cascade laser frequency stabilisation at the sub-Hz level

Abstract

Quantum Cascade Lasers (QCL) are increasingly being used to probe the mid-infrared "molecular fingerprint" region. This prompted efforts towards improving their spectral performance, in order to reach ever-higher resolution and precision. Here, we report the stabilisation of a QCL onto an optical frequency comb. We demonstrate a relative stability and accuracy of 2x10-15 and 10-14, respectively. The comb is stabilised to a remote near-infrared ultra-stable laser referenced to frequency primary standards, whose signal is transferred via an optical fibre link. The stability and frequency traceability of our QCL exceed those demonstrated so far by two orders of magnitude. As a demonstration of its capability, we then use it to perform high-resolution molecular spectroscopy. We measure absorption frequencies with an 8x10-13 relative uncertainty. This confirms the potential of this setup for ultra-high precision measurements with molecules, such as our ongoing effort towards testing the parity symmetry by probing chiral species.

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• Large Vibrationally Induced Parity Violation Effects in CHDBrI${}^{+}$ $-$ A Promising Candidate for Future Experiments
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• An oxorhenium complex bearing a chiral cyclohexane-1-olato-2-thiolato ligand: synthesis, stereochemistry and theoretical study of parity violation vibrational frequency shifts
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• Quantum Cascade Surface Emitting Lasers
• Ultra-sensitive heterodyne detection at room temperature in the atmospheric windows
• Coherence analysis of tightly locked mid-infrared quantum cascade laser frequency combs
• Coherent Control of Mid-Infrared Frequency Comb by Optical Injection of Near-Infrared Light
• Studying fundamental physics using quantum enabled technologies with trapped molecular ions
• Wavelength modulation laser spectroscopy of N${}_2$O at 17 $\mu$m
• Fundamental Limitations of Rayleigh Backscattering Noise on Fiber-Based Multiple-Access Optical Frequency Transfer
• Electron-to-photon noise transfer in mid-infrared semiconductor lasers
• Parity violation effects in helical osmocene: theoretical analysis and experimental prospects
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