Open AccessPolarization shaping in the mid-IR and polarization-based balanced heterodyne detection with application to 2D IR spectroscopy
Author(s) -
Chris Middleton,
David B. Strasfeld,
Martin T. Zanni
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/oe.17.014526
Subject(s) - polarizer , optics , polarization (electrochemistry) , femtosecond , heterodyne detection , spectroscopy , orthogonal polarization spectral imaging , physics , pulse shaping , phase modulation , materials science , phase noise , laser , birefringence , chemistry , quantum mechanics
We demonstrate amplitude, phase and polarization shaping of femtosecond mid-IR pulses using a germanium acousto-optical modulator by independently shaping the frequency-dependent amplitudes and phases of two orthogonally polarized pulses which are then collinearly overlapped using a wire-grid polarizer. We use a feedback loop to set and stabilize the relative phase of the orthogonal pulses. We have also used a wire-grid polarizer to implement polarization-based balanced heterodyne detection for improved signal-to-noise of 2D IR spectra collected in a pump-probe geometry. Applications include coherent control of molecular vibrations and improvements in multidimensional IR spectroscopy.