Ultraviolet astronomical spectrograph calibration with laser frequency combs from nanophotonic lithium niobate waveguides
Journal article, 2024
Astronomical precision spectroscopy underpins searches for life beyond Earth, direct observation of the expanding Universe and constraining the potential variability of physical constants on cosmological scales. Laser frequency combs can provide the required accurate and precise calibration to the astronomical spectrographs. For cosmological studies, extending the calibration with such astrocombs to the ultraviolet spectral range is desirable, however, strong material dispersion and large spectral separation from the established infrared laser oscillators have made this challenging. Here, we demonstrate astronomical spectrograph calibration with an astrocomb in the ultraviolet spectral range below 400 nm. This is accomplished via chip-integrated highly nonlinear photonics in periodically-poled, nano-fabricated lithium niobate waveguides in conjunction with a robust infrared electro-optic comb generator, as well as a chip-integrated microresonator comb. These results demonstrate a viable route towards astronomical precision spectroscopy in the ultraviolet and could contribute to unlock the full potential of next-generation ground-based and future space-based instruments.
Author
Markus Ludwig
Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron (DESY)
Furkan Ayhan
Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL)
Tobias M. Schmidt
University of Geneva
Thibault Wildi
Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron (DESY)
Thibault Voumard
Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron (DESY)
Roman Blum
Centre Suisse d'Electronique et de Microtechnique SA
Zhichao Ye
Chalmers, Microtechnology and Nanoscience (MC2), Photonics
Fuchuan Lei
Chalmers, Microtechnology and Nanoscience (MC2), Photonics
F. Wildi
University of Geneva
Francesco Pepe
University of Geneva
Mahmoud A. Gaafar
Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron (DESY)
Ewelina Obrzud
Centre Suisse d'Electronique et de Microtechnique SA
Davide Grassani
Centre Suisse d'Electronique et de Microtechnique SA
Olivia Hefti
Centre Suisse d'Electronique et de Microtechnique SA
Sylvain Karlen
Centre Suisse d'Electronique et de Microtechnique SA
Steve Lecomte
Centre Suisse d'Electronique et de Microtechnique SA
François Moreau
Observatoire de Haute-Provence
B. Chazelas
University of Geneva
Rico Sottile
Observatoire de Haute-Provence
Victor Torres Company
Chalmers, Microtechnology and Nanoscience (MC2), Photonics
Victor Brasch
Q.ANT GmbH
Luis Guillermo Villanueva
Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL)
F. Bouchy
University of Geneva
Tobias Herr
University of Hamburg
Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron (DESY)
Nature Communications
2041-1723 (ISSN) 20411723 (eISSN)
Vol. 15 1 7614Dark-Soliton Engineering in Microresonator Frequency Combs (DarkComb)
European Commission (EC) (EC/H2020/771410), 2018-05-01 -- 2023-04-30.
Subject Categories
Astronomy, Astrophysics and Cosmology
Atom and Molecular Physics and Optics
DOI
10.1038/s41467-024-51560-x
PubMed
39223131