Long-wavelength infrared upconversion time-stretch spectroscopy

Abstract

High-speed spectroscopy in the molecular fingerprint spectral region (≈6–12 μm) is essential for the detection of ultrafast molecular dynamic processes, rapid combustion analysis, and biological diagnostics. However, ultrafast spectroscopy in the long-wavelength infrared (LWIR) region remains a challenge due to the limitations of laser sources and the lack of ultrafast and sensitive detectors in this wavelength region. Here, we demonstrate broadband LWIR time-stretch spectroscopy, which can realize a single-shot high-speed spectral measurement in a 8–10 μm region, by combining the LWIR femtosecond (fs) light generation and upconversion time-stretching detection with specific dispersive fiber. Broadband tunable fs light generated in the 8–10 μm region is upconverted to the 1.1–1.2 μm near-infrared wavelength via difference-frequency generation with the 1 μm chirped pump pulse. Time-stretch detection of the upconverted light can then be realized by adopting dispersion shifted fiber, which has a superior dispersion-to-loss ratio in the 1.1–1.2 μm wavelength region, as the dispersive medium. As a result, we experimentally demonstrate LWIR time-stretch spectroscopy in the 8–10 μm region with a spectral resolution of 1.07 cm−1, at a rate of 200 kSpectra s−1, which is only limited by the repetition rate of the 1 μm pump source. The demonstration of high-speed time-stretch spectroscopy in the LWIR region would open the possibility in exploring the transient dynamics of molecular fingerprint spectroscopy.