We propose a fiber-based, terahertz-comb-referenced spectrum analyzer which has the advantages of being a portable, alignment-free, robust, and flexible apparatus suitable for practical use. To this end, we constructed a 1550-nm mode-locked Er-doped fiber laser whose mode-locked frequency was stabilized precisely by referring to a rubidium frequency standard, and used it to generate a highly stable terahertz (THz) frequency comb in a photoconductive antenna or an electro-optic crystal. By standardizing the THz comb, we determined the frequency accuracy of an active-frequency-multiplier-chain (AFMC) source to be 2.4 × 10⁻¹¹. Furthermore, the potential of the THz spectrum analyzer was effectively demonstrated by real-time monitoring of the spectral behavior of the AFMC source and a photomixing source of two free-running CW lasers at adjacent wavelengths.

© 2009 OSA

1. S. Yokoyama, R. Nakamura, M. Nose, T. Araki, and T. Yasui, “Terahertz spectrum analyzer based on a terahertz frequency comb,” Opt. Express 16(17), 13052–13061 (2008), http://www.opticsinfobase.org/oe/abstract.cfm?URI=oe-16-17-13052 . [CrossRef] [PubMed]
2. T. Yasui, Y. Kabetani, E. Saneyoshi, S. Yokoyama, and T. Araki, “Terahertz frequency comb by multi-frequency-heterodyning photoconductive detection for high-accuracy, high-resolution terahertz spectroscopy,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 88(24), 241104 (2006). [CrossRef]
3. P. Gaal, M. B. Raschke, K. Reimann, and M. Woerner, “Measuring optical frequencies in the 0–40 THz range with non-synchronized electro–optic sampling,” Nat. Photonics 1(10), 577–580 (2007). [CrossRef]
4. B. Sartorius, H. Roehle, H. Künzel, J. Böttcher, M. Schlak, D. Stanze, H. Venghaus, and M. Schell, “All-fiber terahertz time-domain spectrometer operating at 1.5 microm telecom wavelengths,” Opt. Express 16(13), 9565–9570 (2008), http://www.opticsinfobase.org/oe/abstract.cfm?URI=oe-16-13-9565 . [CrossRef] [PubMed]
5. J. Ward, E. Schlecht, G. Chattopadhyay, A. Maestrini, J. Gill, F. Maiwald, H. Javadi, and I. Mehdi, “Capability of THz sources based on Schottky diode frequency multiplier chains,” in Proceedings of IEEE MTT-S International Microwave Symposium (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Fort Worth, 2004), pp. 1587–1590.
6. T. Nagatsuma, H. Ito, and T. Ishibashi, “High-power RF photodiodes and their applications,” Laser, Photon. Rev. 3(1-2), 123–137 (2009).
7. H. Inaba, Y. Daimon, F.-L. Hong, A. Onae, K. Minoshima, T. R. Schibli, H. Matsumoto, M. Hirano, T. Okuno, M. Onishi, and M. Nakazawa, “Long-term measurement of optical frequencies using a simple, robust and low-noise fiber based frequency comb,” Opt. Express 14(12), 5223–5231 (2006), http://www.opticsinfobase.org/oe/abstract.cfm?URI=oe-14-12-5223 . [CrossRef] [PubMed]
8. M. Tani, K.-S. Lee, and X.-C. Zhang, “Detection of terahertz radiation with low-temperature-grown GaAs-based photoconductive antenna using 1.55 µm probe,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 77(9), 1396–1398 (2000). [CrossRef]
9. T. Löffler and T. May, “C. am Weg, A. Alcin, B. Hils and H. G. Roskos. “Continuous-wave terahertz imaging with a hybrid system,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 90, 091111 (2007).
10. T. Yasui, H. Takahashi, Y. Iwamoto, H. Inaba, and K. Minoshima, “Widely tunable, phase-locked CW-THz radiation by photomixing of two CW lasers locked to two independent fiber combs,” in Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics (CLEO)2009, Technical Digest (CD) (Optical Society of America, 2009), paper CWB7. http://www.opticsinfobase.org/abstract.cfm?URI=CLEO-2009-CWB7 .
11. M. Ashida, R. Akai, H. Shimosato, I. Katayama, T. Itoh, K. Miyamoto, and H. Ito, “Ultrabroadband THz field detection beyond 170THz with a photoconductive antenna,” in Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics (CLEO)2008, Technical Digest (CD) (Optical Society of America, 2008), paper CTuX6. http://www.opticsinfobase.org/abstract.cfm?URI=CLEO-2008-CTuX6 .

Appl. Phys. Lett.

• T. Yasui, Y. Kabetani, E. Saneyoshi, S. Yokoyama, and T. Araki, “Terahertz frequency comb by multi-frequency-heterodyning photoconductive detection for high-accuracy, high-resolution terahertz spectroscopy,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 88(24), 241104 (2006). [CrossRef]
• M. Tani, K.-S. Lee, and X.-C. Zhang, “Detection of terahertz radiation with low-temperature-grown GaAs-based photoconductive antenna using 1.55 µm probe,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 77(9), 1396–1398 (2000). [CrossRef]
• T. Löffler and T. May, “C. am Weg, A. Alcin, B. Hils and H. G. Roskos. “Continuous-wave terahertz imaging with a hybrid system,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 90, 091111 (2007).

Laser,

• T. Nagatsuma, H. Ito, and T. Ishibashi, “High-power RF photodiodes and their applications,” Laser, Photon. Rev. 3(1-2), 123–137 (2009).

Nat. Photonics

• P. Gaal, M. B. Raschke, K. Reimann, and M. Woerner, “Measuring optical frequencies in the 0–40 THz range with non-synchronized electro–optic sampling,” Nat. Photonics 1(10), 577–580 (2007). [CrossRef]

Opt. Express

• B. Sartorius, H. Roehle, H. Künzel, J. Böttcher, M. Schlak, D. Stanze, H. Venghaus, and M. Schell, “All-fiber terahertz time-domain spectrometer operating at 1.5 microm telecom wavelengths,” Opt. Express 16(13), 9565–9570 (2008), http://www.opticsinfobase.org/oe/abstract.cfm?URI=oe-16-13-9565 . [CrossRef] [PubMed]
• H. Inaba, Y. Daimon, F.-L. Hong, A. Onae, K. Minoshima, T. R. Schibli, H. Matsumoto, M. Hirano, T. Okuno, M. Onishi, and M. Nakazawa, “Long-term measurement of optical frequencies using a simple, robust and low-noise fiber based frequency comb,” Opt. Express 14(12), 5223–5231 (2006), http://www.opticsinfobase.org/oe/abstract.cfm?URI=oe-14-12-5223 . [CrossRef] [PubMed]
• S. Yokoyama, R. Nakamura, M. Nose, T. Araki, and T. Yasui, “Terahertz spectrum analyzer based on a terahertz frequency comb,” Opt. Express 16(17), 13052–13061 (2008), http://www.opticsinfobase.org/oe/abstract.cfm?URI=oe-16-17-13052 . [CrossRef] [PubMed]

Other

• J. Ward, E. Schlecht, G. Chattopadhyay, A. Maestrini, J. Gill, F. Maiwald, H. Javadi, and I. Mehdi, “Capability of THz sources based on Schottky diode frequency multiplier chains,” in Proceedings of IEEE MTT-S International Microwave Symposium (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Fort Worth, 2004), pp. 1587–1590.
• T. Yasui, H. Takahashi, Y. Iwamoto, H. Inaba, and K. Minoshima, “Widely tunable, phase-locked CW-THz radiation by photomixing of two CW lasers locked to two independent fiber combs,” in Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics (CLEO)2009, Technical Digest (CD) (Optical Society of America, 2009), paper CWB7. http://www.opticsinfobase.org/abstract.cfm?URI=CLEO-2009-CWB7 .
• M. Ashida, R. Akai, H. Shimosato, I. Katayama, T. Itoh, K. Miyamoto, and H. Ito, “Ultrabroadband THz field detection beyond 170THz with a photoconductive antenna,” in Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics (CLEO)2008, Technical Digest (CD) (Optical Society of America, 2008), paper CTuX6. http://www.opticsinfobase.org/abstract.cfm?URI=CLEO-2008-CTuX6 .

Click here to see a list of articles that cite this paper

Multimedia

Related Journal Articles

• Sweep optical frequency synthesizer with a distributed-Bragg-reflector laser injection locked by a single component of an optical frequency comb (OL)
• Terahertz spectrum analyzer based on a terahertz frequency comb (OE)
• Single-frequency synthesis at telecommunication wavelengths (OE)
• Fiber-based, hybrid terahertz spectrometer using dual fiber combs (OL)
• Widely and continuously tunable terahertz synthesizer traceable to a microwave frequency standard (OE)

Related Conference Papers

• Optically induced spin orientation of the nitrogen-vacancy center in diamond
• Optically induced spin orientation of the nitrogen-vacancy center in diamond
• Ultrahigh-Resolution Spectroscopy Using Optical Single-Sideband Modulator and Fiber Grating Laser
• Current Applications of FTS in Astronomy
• Optical Frequency Measurements in the Far- and Mid-infrared Range
• An Ultra-High Resolution Spectrometer with Successive Combination of a Fabry-Perot Etalon and a Cylindrical Beam Volume Hologram