Description

A part of the research group performs ultra-high-sensitivity molecular spectroscopy in the mid IR.

The saturated-absorption cavity ring-down (SCAR) technique, conceived by the group, allows to detect extremely rare molecules, such as 14CO2 well below the natural abundance of ~1 ppt. The SCAR technology is protected by 3 patents and has been transferred from CNR to the spin-off company ppqSense S.r.l., which is further developing the laboratory prototype to make it a commercial instrument.

The group also developes alternative techniques for trace-gas detection, such as photoacoustic CEPAS, more suited for the development of compact, low-cost and portable gas absorption sensors.

Molecular spectroscopy in the THz spectral region is also investigated trough the development of difference frequency generation spectrometer that grants ultra-broadband spectral coverage and accurate determination of molecular transitions.

In parallel, group deals with the characterization of the emission of quantum cascade laser frequency combs (QCL-combs) in the mid-IR and terahertz (THz). The applicability of QCL-combs for spectroscopy as well as metrologic sources for classic and quantum telecommunications is under investigation.

The linewidth and frequency stability of the laser sources play a key role in all the high-sensitivity and high-precision spectroscopic techniques. Our research group gained a large expertise in the analysis of the phase and frequency noise of coherent sources, including up- and down-conversion sources, quantum cascade lasers and interband cascade lasers. During last decade, a variety of techniques for laser noise reduction and frequency stabilization have been developed, including optical and electronic locking to stable references (optical references, frequency combs, molecular transitions) or to high-finesse optical resonators (Fabry-Perot resonators, whispering gallery mode resonators). The group has also expertise in the realization of mid- and far-infrared coherent sources by means of nonlinear processes in crystals or diode

To know more

Website

INO Staff

Bartalini Saverio
Borri Simone
Cancio Pastor Pablo
Cappelli Francesco
Consolino Luigi
De Natale Paolo
Gabbrielli Tecla
Galli Iacopo
Giusfredi Giovanni
Mazzotti Davide
Sorgi Alessia