Coherent averaging quantum cascade laser based dual-comb spectrometer with near infrared light illumination control

Abstract

We present a dual-comb spectrometer based on quantum cascade lasers operating at 7.7 µm with a stabilization scheme that enables coherent averaging. We show that by illuminating a low cost near-infrared light source of the front facet of the quantum cascade laser, we can tightly lock one comb line of the dual-comb spectrum, resulting in narrow linewidth with sub-radian integrated phase noise for all RF comb lines.