Open AccessUpconversion-enabled array spectrometer for the mid-infrared, featuring kilohertz spectra acquisition rates
Author(s) -
Sebastian Wolf,
Jens Kießling,
M. Kunz,
Gregor Popko,
K. Buse,
Frank Kühnemann
Publication year - 2017
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.25.014504
Subject(s) - photon upconversion , spectrometer , optics , grating , infrared , materials science , spectroscopy , infrared spectroscopy , optoelectronics , physics , laser , quantum mechanics
Mid-infrared spectroscopy is an essential analytical method in science and industry. Unlike in the near-infrared range, grating spectrometers for the mid-infrared are rarely employed, mostly due to the limited availability and performance of suitable line array detectors. In this work, continuous-wave nonlinear-optical upconversion is used to enable mid-infrared spectroscopy. A broad spectral window between 3.7 and 4.7 μm is upconverted to 825 - 867 nm for detection on a silicon-camera-based near-infrared grating spectrometer with a high sensitivity down to sub-picowatt of input power. A theoretical model is presented that accurately describes the upconversion process and the total system behavior. Spectroscopic flame emission measurements demonstrate the applicability towards the analysis of highly dynamic processes.