High-resolution, broadly-tunable mid-IR spectroscopy using a continuous wave optical parametric oscillator

Abstract

We report on the design and automation of a mid-infrared, continuous wave, singly-resonant optical parametric oscillator. Hands-free controls and the implementation of a tuning algorithm allowed for hundreds of nanometers of continuous, effective-mode-hop-free tuning over the range of 2190-4000 nm. To demonstrate the applicability of this light source and algorithm to mid-IR spectroscopy, we performed a sample spectroscopy measurement in a C₂H₂ gas cell and compared the experimentally-measured absorption spectrum to HITRAN 2016 simulations. We found excellent agreement with simulation in both peak heights and peak centers; we also report a reduced uncertainty in peak centers compared to simulation.