Longwave infrared (6.6-11.4 m) dual-comb spectroscopy with 240,000 comb-mode-resolved data points at video rate

Using sub-3-cycle pulses from mode-locked Cr:ZnS lasers at lambda approximate to 2.4 mu m as a driving source, we performed high -resolution dual-frequency-comb spectroscopy in the long -wave infrared (LWIR) range. A duo of highly coherent broadband (6.6-11.4 mu m) frequency combs were produced via intrapulse difference frequency generation in zinc ger-manium phosphide (ZGP) crystals. Fast (up to 0.1 s per spectrum) acquisition of 240,000 comb-mode-resolved data points, spaced by 80 MHz and referenced to a Rb clock, was demonstrated, resulting in metrology grade molecular spec-tra of N2O (nitrous oxide) and CH3OH (methane). The key to high-speed massive spectral data acquisition was low inten-sity and phase noise of the LWIR combs and high (7.5%) downconversion efficiency, resulting in a LWIR power of 300 mW for each comb. (c) 2023 Optica Publishing Group