Demonstration of near-IR line-referenced electro-optical laser comb for precision radial velocity measurement in astronomy

Published

January 27, 2016

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

Citation

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 22, 2025)