Background-free correlation spectroscopy using an infrared mode-locked laser

Abstract

The recent advances in infrared laser technology are expanding the capabilities and applications of vibrational spectroscopy. A promising approach utilizing broadband infrared mode-locked lasers is background-free (BF) absorption spectroscopy. This method captures the free-induction decay (FID) of excited molecules while suppressing the background light. It is unique in that the signal strength increases with input optical power but eventually struggles with detector noise when targeting fewer molecules. In this paper, we present a novel method of multiplexed background-free spectroscopy using a spectral mask whose transmittance has a strong correlation with the absorption spectrum of a target molecule. We successfully demonstrate an order of magnitude increase in the sensitivity due to multiplexing as well as a high molecular contrast due to the spectral correlation. The presented results indicate the promising potential of the method for sensitive and selective detection of trace molecules.