Injection seeded single mode intra-cavity absorption spectroscopy

Abstract

We present a single mode intra-cavity spectroscopy system in which the test laser is locked to a narrow band external single mode laser. This technique solves many problems typically encountered in single mode intra-cavity spectroscopy: it results in good tuning properties, a stable single mode operation close to the lasing threshold, a high side-mode suppression and a reduction of spontaneous emission without the use of any frequency selective element. Measurements of broadband absorptions as well as measurements of a narrow band absorption line of the oxygen A-band are presented and compared with theoretical model predictions. The prototype described in this work provides an enhancement in sensitivity of approximately a factor of 12, and it demonstrates the influence of optical injection to single mode intra-cavity spectroscopy. As there is no need for any frequency selective element inside the cavity, the sensitivity can be massively enhanced by optimizing the laser cavity.