Broadband vibrational sum-frequency generation spectrometer at 100 kHz in the 950-1750 cm${}^{-1}$ spectral range utilizing a LiGaS${}_2$ optical parametric amplifier

Abstract

We present a 100 kHz broadband vibrational sum-frequency generation (VSFG) spectrometer operating in the 5.5-10.5 $\mu$m (950-1750 cm${}^{-1}$) wavelength range. The mid-infrared beam of the system is obtained from a collinear, type-I LiGaS${}_2$ crystal based optical parametric amplifier seeded by a supercontinuum and pumped directly by 180 fs, ~32 $\mu$J, 1.03 $\mu$m pulses from an Yb:KGd(WO${}_4$)${}_2$ laser system. Up to 0.5 $\mu$J mid-infrared pulses with durations below 100 fs were obtained after dispersion compensation utilizing bulk materials. We demonstrate the utility of the spectrometer by recording high-resolution, low-noise vibrational spectra of Langmuir-Blodgett supported lipid monolayers on CaF${}_2$. The presented VSFG spectrometer scheme offers superior signal-to-noise ratios and constitutes a high-efficiency, low-cost, easy-to-use alternative to traditional schemes relying on optical parametric amplification followed by difference frequency generation.

9 pages, 4 figures