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Demonstration of near-IR line-referenced electro-optical laser comb for precision radial velocity measurement in astronomy
Published
Author(s)
Scott A. Diddams, K Vahala, J Li, Gabriel G. Ycas, P Plavchan, S Leifer, J Sandhu, G Vasisht, P Chen, P Gao, J Gagne, M Bottom, E.C. Martin, M.P. Fitzgerald, G Doppmann, C Beichman, X Yi
Abstract
We describe a successful effort to produce a laser comb around 1.55 micron in the astronomical H band (1.5-1.8 micron) using a method based on a line-referenced, electro-optical-modulation frequency comb (LR-EOFC). The LR-EOFC is a spectrum of equally spaced laser lines generated by electro-optical modulation, with center wavelength stabilized to a molecular or atomic reference. The LR-EOFC was built using commercial off-the-shelf technologies and therefore is relatively simple and reliable. A proof of concept experiment was demonstrated at the NASA Infrared Telescope Facility and the Keck-II telescope. The laser comb has a demonstrated stability of
Citation
Nature Communications
Pub Type
Journals
Keywords
astronomical spectroscopy, exo-planet, Frequency comb, radial velocity
Diddams, S.
, Vahala, K.
, Li, J.
, Ycas, G.
, Plavchan, P.
, Leifer, S.
, Sandhu, J.
, Vasisht, G.
, Chen, P.
, Gao, P.
, Gagne, J.
, Bottom, M.
, Martin, E.
, Fitzgerald, M.
, Doppmann, G.
, Beichman, C.
and Yi, X.
(2016),
Demonstration of near-IR line-referenced electro-optical laser comb for precision radial velocity measurement in astronomy, Nature Communications
(Accessed October 1, 2025)