We report on a high-power mid-infrared frequency comb source based on a femtosecond Er:fiber oscillator with a stabilized repetition rate at 250 MHz. The mid-infrared frequency comb is produced through difference frequency generation in a periodically poled MgO-doped lithium niobate crystal. The output power is about 120 mW with a pulse duration of about 80 fs, and spectrum coverage from 2.9 to 3.6 μm. The coherence properties of the produced high-power broadband mid-infrared frequency comb are maintained, which was verified by heterodyne measurements. As the first application, the spectrum of a ~200 ppm methane-air mixture in a short 20 cm glass cell at ambient atmospheric pressure and temperature was measured.

Full article:

Optics Letters, Vol. 38, p. 2360 (2013)

doi: https://doi.org/10.1364/OL.38.002360