Ultra-broadband mid-infrared frequency combs produced by optical subharmonic generation

Optical frequency combs have revolutionised accurate frequency and time measurements and have enabled broadband and simultaneously high resolution spectroscopic measurements that were not previously possible. This paper is an overview of the main results of the previously performed work, describing a new approach to extending frequency combs to the mid-infrared ‘molecular signature’ range using a subharmonic generator based on an optical parametric oscillator operating in degenerate mode. Such an instrument acts as an efficient frequency divider that rigorously down-converts and augments the spectrum of a pump laser frequency comb while maintaining its coherence. Our recent result is the demonstration of a subharmonic system with a two-octave spectrum, 3 – 12 μm, which covers vibrational resonances for most molecular species. Potentially, through frequency division in the coherent subharmonic optical parametric amplifier regime, this method can be used to obtain intense long-wavelength pulses for high-field physics applications.