arXiv subjects

P. De Natale

Publications and source records attributed to P. De Natale.

13 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2020

Controlling and Phase-Locking a THz Quantum Cascade Laser Frequency Comb by Small Optical Frequency Tuning

Full phase control of THz emitting quantum cascade laser (QCL) combs has recently been demonstrated, opening new perspectives for even the most demanding applications. In this framework, simplifying the set-ups for control of these devices will help to accelerate their spreading in many fields. We report a new way to control the emission frequencies of a THz QCL comb by small optical frequency tuning (SOFT), using a very simple experimental setup, exploiting the incoherent emission of an ordinary white light emitting diode. The slightly perturbative regime accessible in these condition allows tweaking the complex refractive index of the semiconductor without destabilizing the broadband laser gain. The SOFT actuator is characterized and compared to another actuator, the QCL driving current. The suitability of this additional degree of freedom for frequency and phase stabilization of a THz QCL comb is shown and perspectives are discussed.

physics.app-ph↗

arXiv2020

Optical frequency combs in quadratically nonlinear resonators

Optical frequency combs are one of the most remarkable inventions of the last decades. Originally conceived as the spectral counterpart of the train of short pulses emitted by mode-locked lasers, frequency combs have also been subsequently generated in continuously pumped microresonators, through third-order parametric processes. Quite recently, direct generation of optical frequency combs has been demonstrated in continuous-wave laser-pumped optical resonators with a second-order nonlinear medium inside. Here, we presents a concise introduction to such quadratic combs and the physical mechanism that underlies their formation. We mainly review our recent experimental and theoretical work on formation and dynamics of such quadratic frequency combs. We experimentally demonstrated comb generation in two configurations: a cavity for second harmonic generation, where combs are generated both around the pump frequency and its second harmonic, and a degenerate optical parametric oscillator, where combs are generated around the pump frequency and its sub-harmonic. The experiments have been supported by a thorough theoretical analysis, aimed at modelling the dynamics of quadratic combs, both in frequency and time domains, providing useful insights into the physics of this new class of optical frequency comb synthesizers. Quadratic combs establish a new class of efficient frequency comb synthesizers, with unique features, which could enable straightforward access to new spectral regions and stimulate novel applications.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2018

Modulation Instability Induced Frequency Comb Generation in a Continuously Pumped Optical Parametric Oscillator

Continuously pumped passive nonlinear cavities can be harnessed for the creation of novel optical frequency combs. While most research has focused on third-order "Kerr" nonlinear interactions, recent studies have shown that frequency comb formation can also occur via second-order nonlinear effects. Here, we report on the formation of quadratic combs in optical parametric oscillator (OPO) configurations. Specifically, we demonstrate that optical frequency combs can be generated in the parametric region around half of the pump frequency in a continuously-driven OPO. We also model the OPO dynamics through a single time-domain mean-field equation, identifying previously unknown dynamical regimes, induced by modulation instabilities, which lead to comb formation. Numerical simulation results are in good agreement with experimentally observed spectra. Moreover, the analysis of the coherence properties of the simulated spectra shows the existence of correlated and phase-locked combs. Our results reveal previously unnoticed dynamics of an apparently well assessed optical system, and can lead to a new class of frequency comb sources that may stimulate novel applications by enabling straightforward access to elusive spectral regions, such as the mid-infrared.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2017

Measuring molecular frequencies in the 1--10 μm range at 11-digits accuracy

Mid infrared (MIR) photonics is a key region for molecular physics [1]. High-resolution spectroscopy in the 1--10 μm region, though, has never been fully tackled for the lack of widely-tunable and practical light sources. Indeed, all solutions proposed thus far suffer from at least one of three issues: they are feasible only in a narrow spectral range; the power available for spectroscopy is limited; the frequency accuracy is poor. Here, we present a setup for high-resolution spectroscopy that can be applied in the whole 1--10 μm range by combining the power of quantum cascade lasers (QCLs) and the accuracy achievable by difference frequency generation using an OP-GaP crystal. The frequency is measured against a primary frequency standard using the Italian metrological fibre link network. We demonstrate the performance of the setup by measuring a vibrational transition in a highly-excited metastable state of CO around 6 μm with 11 digits of precision, four orders of magnitude better than the value available in the literature [2].

physics.atom-ph↗

arXiv2016

Super-Resonant Intracavity Coherent Absorption

The capability of optical resonators to extend the effective radiation-matter interaction length originates from a multipass effect, hence is intrinsically limited by the resonator quality factor. Here, we show that this constraint can be overcome by combining the concepts of resonant interaction and coherent perfect absorption. We demonstrate and investigate super-resonant coherent absorption in a coupled Fabry-Perot-ring cavity structure. At the FP resonant wavelengths, the described phenomenon gives rise to split modes with a nearly-transparent peak and a peak whose transmission is exceptionally sensitive to the intracavity loss. For small losses, the effective interaction pathlength of these modes is proportional respectively to the ratio and the product of the individual finesse coefficients of the two resonators. The results presented extend the conventional definition of resonant absorption and point to a way of circumventing the technological limitations of ultrahigh-quality resonators in spectroscopy and optical sensing schemes

physics.optics↗

arXiv2015

Direct generation of optical frequency combs in $χ^{(2)}$ nonlinear cavities

Quadratic nonlinear processes are currently exploited for frequency comb transfer and extension from the visible and near infrared regions to other spectral ranges where direct comb generation cannot be accomplished. However, frequency comb generation has been directly observed in continuously-pumped quadratic nonlinear crystals placed inside an optical cavity. At the same time, an introductory theoretical description of the phenomenon has been provided, showing a remarkable analogy with the dynamics of third-order Kerr microresonators. Here, we give an overview of our recent work on $χ^{(2)}$ frequency comb generation. Furthermore, we generalize the preliminary three-wave spectral model to a many-mode comb and present a stability analysis of different cavity field regimes. Although at a very early stage, our work lays the groundwork for a novel class of highly efficient and versatile frequency comb synthesizers based on second-order nonlinear materials.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2015

Sub-kHz linewidth narrowing of a mid-infrared OPO idler frequency by direct cavity stabilization

We stabilize the idler frequency of a singly-resonant optical parametric oscillator directly to the resonance of a mid-infrared Fabry-Pérot reference cavity. This is accomplished by the Pound-Drever-Hall locking scheme, controlling either the pump laser or the resonant signal frequency. A residual relative frequency noise power spectral density below 10$^3$ Hz$^2$/Hz is reached, with a Gaussian linewidth of 920 Hz over 100 ms, which demonstrates the potential for reaching spectral purity down to the Hz level by locking the optical parametric oscillator against a mid-infrared cavity with state-of-the-art superior performance.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2014

Low-temperature spectroscopy of the $^{12}$C$_2$H$_2$ ($\upsilon_1 +\upsilon_3$) band in a helium buffer gas

Buffer gas cooling with a $^4$He gas is used to perform laser-absorption spectroscopy of the $^{12}$C$_2$H$_2$ ($ν_1+ν_3$) band at cryogenic temperatures. Doppler thermometry is first carried out to extract translational temperatures from the recorded spectra. Then, rotational temperatures down to 20 K are retrieved by fitting the Boltzmann distribution to the relative intensities of several ro-vibrational lines. The underlying helium-acetylene collisional physics, relevant for modeling planetary atmospheres, is also addressed. In particular, the diffusion time of $^{12}$C$_2$H$_2$ in the buffer cell is measured against the $^4$He flux at two separate translational temperatures; the observed behavior is then compared with that predicted by a Monte Carlo simulation, thus providing an estimate for the respective total elastic cross sections: $σ_{el}(100\ {\rm K})=(4\pm1)\cdot 10^{-20}$ m$^{2}$ and $σ_{el}(25\ {\rm K})=(7\pm2)\cdot 10^{-20}$ m$^{2}$.

astro-ph.IM↗

arXiv2013

Enhanced sensing with quasi-degenerate mode in fiber Bragg gratings ring cavities

In this paper, we report the model and the experimental demonstration of a new optical resonator formed by inserting a Fiber Bragg Grating (FBG) in a closed fiber loop. The spectral characteristics of the ring depend on the reflectivity of the FBG. When the FBG reflectivity tends to zero, the overall resonant system exhibits the usual degenerate mode conditions. On the other hand, when the reflection coefficient FBG is not vanishing, the spectral features of the resonator display split resonant modes associated to the degeneracy removal of two counterpropagating modes that resonate within the cavity. The splitting magnitude is maximal in the region of maximum reflectivity of the FBG. Moreover, it varies by acting on the FBG physical parameters (e.g. strain, temperature, group index). By considering the spectral region where the splitting magnitude variation is almost maximal, i.e. quasi degenerate mode condition, we prove that the device can be used also as a slow light sensor by monitoring the power change associated with the applied strain showing, in this case, a sensitivity of 3.6x10^(6)x eps^(-1). To the best of our knowledge, this represents a factor 20 improvement over the best slow-light FBG sensors.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2012

Frequency metrology of helium around 1083 nm and determination of the nuclear charge radius

We measure the absolute frequency of seven out of the nine allowed transitions between the 2$^3${\it S} and 2$^3${\it P} hyperfine manifolds in a metastable $^3$He beam by using an optical frequency comb synthesizer-assisted spectrometer. The relative uncertainty of our measurements ranges from $1\times 10^{-11}$ to $5\times 10^{-12}$, which is, to our knowledge, the most precise result for any optical $^3$He transition to date. The resulting $2^3${\it P}-2$^3${\it S} centroid frequency is $276\,702\,827\,204.8\,(2.4)$kHz. Comparing this value with the known result for the $^4$He centroid and performing {\em ab initio} QED calculations of the $^4$He-$^3$He isotope shift, we extract the difference of the squared nuclear charge radii $δr^2$ of $^3$He and $^4$He. Our result for $δr^2=1.074 (3)$ fm$^2$ disagrees by about $4\,σ$ with the recent determination [R. van Rooij {\em et al.}, Science {\bf 333}, 196 (2011)].

physics.atom-ph↗

arXiv2010

Observing the intrinsic linewidth of a quantum-cascade laser: beyond the Schawlow-Townes limit

A comprehensive investigation of the frequency-noise spectral density of a free-running mid-infrared quantum-cascade laser is presented for the first time. It provides direct evidence of the leveling of this noise down to a white noise plateau, corresponding to an intrinsic linewidth of a few hundred Hz. The experiment is in agreement with the most recent theory on the fundamental mechanism of line broadening in quantum-cascade lasers, which provides a new insight into the Schawlow-Townes formula and predicts a narrowing beyond the limit set by the radiative lifetime of the upper level.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2010

Saturated-absorption cavity ring-down spectroscopy

We report on a novel approach to cavity-ring-down spectroscopy with the sample gas in saturated-absorption regime. This technique allows to decouple and simultaneously retrieve empty-cavity background and absorption signal, by means of a theoretical model that we developed and tested. The high sensitivity and frequency precision for spectroscopic applications are exploited to measure, for the first time, the hyperfine structure of an excited vibrational state of $^{17}$O$^{12}$C$^{16}$O in natural abundance with an accuracy of a few parts in $10^{-11}$.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2008

Quantum Physics Exploring Gravity in the Outer Solar System: The Sagas Project

We summarise the scientific and technological aspects of the SAGAS (Search for Anomalous Gravitation using Atomic Sensors) project, submitted to ESA in June 2007 in response to the Cosmic Vision 2015-2025 call for proposals. The proposed mission aims at flying highly sensitive atomic sensors (optical clock, cold atom accelerometer, optical link) on a Solar System escape trajectory in the 2020 to 2030 time-frame. SAGAS has numerous science objectives in fundamental physics and Solar System science, for example numerous tests of general relativity and the exploration of the Kuiper belt. The combination of highly sensitive atomic sensors and of the laser link well adapted for large distances will allow measurements with unprecedented accuracy and on scales never reached before. We present the proposed mission in some detail, with particular emphasis on the science goals and associated measurements.

gr-qc↗