Surpassing the path-limited resolution of Fourier-transform spectrometry with frequency combs

Abstract

We overcome the resolution limit of Fourier-transform spectrometry and measure instrumental line-shape-free broadband molecular spectra with lines narrower than the optical path-limited resolution. We do this by using an optical frequency comb and precisely matching the maximum delay range of the spectrometer to the comb line spacing to measure the intensities of the individual comb lines. This method allows measurements of undistorted high-resolution spectra with acquisition time and interferometer length reduced by orders of magnitude and with frequency scale accuracy given by the comb.