Enhanced resolution in argon and neon spectra using a Super-Resolution algorithm

Abstract

This paper presents the principles and application of a super-resolution (SR) technique, based on a L1-norm minimization procedure. In particular, the technique is applied to improve low-resolution resolution spectra as obtained from the optogalvanic effect in neon and argon discharges over the 413–423 nm wavelength range. By applying the super-resolution algorithm to the experimental data, a surprising 70-fold reduction of the linewidth is achieved allowing to resolve prior indistinguishable peaks. It is found that further improvements on the resolution are limited by the signal-to-noise ratio of the original spectra. The importance of a suitable mathematical representation of the experiment and the discussion on other applications of this super-resolution technique in spectroscopy are also presented.