Astronomical optical frequency comb generation and test in a fiber-fed MUSE spectrograph

J. M. Chavez Boggio, T. Fremberg, B. Moralejo, M. Rutowska, E. Hernandez, M. Zajnulina, A. Kelz, D. Bodenmüller, C. Sandin, M. Wysmolek, H. Sayinc, J. Neumann, R. Haynes, M. M. Roth

Research output: Contribution to journalConference articlepeer-review

Abstract

We here report on recent progress on astronomical optical frequency comb generation at innoFSPEC-Potsdam and present preliminary test results using the fiber-fed Multi Unit Spectroscopic Explorer (MUSE) spectrograph. The frequency comb is generated by propagating two free-running lasers at 1554.3 and 1558.9 nm through two dispersionoptimized nonlinear fibers. The generated comb is centered at 1590 nm and comprises more than one hundred lines with an optical-signal-to-noise ratio larger than 30 dB. A nonlinear crystal is used to frequency double the whole comb spectrum, which is efficiently converted into the 800 nm spectral band. We evaluate first the wavelength stability using an optical spectrum analyzer with 0.02 nm resolution and wavelength grid of 0.01 nm. After confirming the stability within 0.01 nm, we compare the spectra of the astro-comb and the Ne and Hg calibration lamps: the astro-comb exhibits a much larger number of lines than lamp calibration sources. A series of preliminary tests using a fiber-fed MUSE spectrograph are subsequently carried out with the main goal of assessing the equidistancy of the comb lines. Using a P3d data reduction software we determine the centroid and the width of each comb line (for each of the 400 fibers feeding the spectrograph): equidistancy is confirmed with an absolute accuracy of 0.4 pm.

Original languageEnglish
Article number915120
JournalProceedings of SPIE - International Society for Optical Engineering
Volume9151
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 28 Jul 2014
EventAdvances in optical and mechanical technologies for telescopes and instrumentation - Montréal, Canada
Duration: 23 Jun 201427 Jun 2014

Bibliographical note

Copyright 2014 SPIE. One print or electronic copy may be made for personal use only. Systematic reproduction, duplication of any material in this paper for a fee or for commercial purposes, or modification of the content of the paper are prohibited.

Keywords

  • Astronomical wavelength calibration
  • Dispersion engineering
  • Optical frequency comb
  • Spectrograph

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