Vibrational Stark Spectroscopy of Fluorobenzene Using Quantum Cascade Laser Dual Frequency Combs

Appl Spectrosc. 2020 Mar;74(3):347-356. doi: 10.1177/0003702819888503. Epub 2019 Dec 23.

Abstract

We demonstrate the performance of a dual frequency comb quantum cascade laser (QCL) spectrometer for the application of vibrational Stark spectroscopy. Measurements performed on fluorobenzene with the dual-comb spectrometer (DCS) were compared to results obtained using a conventional Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) instrument in terms of spectral response, parameter estimation, and signal-to-noise ratio (S/N). The dual-comb spectrometer provided similar qualitative and quantitative data as the FT-IR setup in 250 times shorter acquisition time. For fluorobenzene, the DCS measurement resulted in a more precise estimation of the fluorobenzene Stark tuning rate ((0.81 ± 0.09) cm-1/(MV/cm)) than with the FT-IR system ((0.89 ± 0.15) cm-1/(MV/cm)). Both values are in accordance with the previously reported value of 0.84 cm-1/(MV/cm). We also point to an improvement of signal-to-noise ratio in the DCS configuration. Additional characteristics of the dual-comb spectrometer applicable to vibrational Stark spectroscopy and their scaling properties for future applications are discussed.

Keywords: DCS; IRsweep; QCL; VSS; Vibrational Stark spectroscopy; dual comb spectroscopy; frequency combs; quantum cascade lasers.