High-resolution terahertz spectroscopy with a single tunable frequency comb

Abstract

We report an improvement of three orders of magnitude in the spectral resolution of a recently proposed single-comb terahertz spectroscopy [Opt. Lett.39, 5669 (2014)]. The improvement is achieved by using a femtosecond optical pulse train with a tunable repetition rate. Terahertz comb with tunable spectral line spacing generated by the train is detected via nonlinear mixing with a harmonic of a CW signal from a microwave frequency synthesizer. By applying this technique to the low-pressure gas spectroscopy, we achieved a 100 kHz spectral resolution in measuring separate absorption lines of the rotational manifold of fluoroform (CF₃H).