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New laser “comb” can enable rapid identification of chemicals with extreme precision


Researchers demonstrated a broadband infrared frequency comb that can operate stably, efficiently, and accurately without the need for bulky external components. The device could be utilized in a remote sensor or portable mass spectrometer that can track and monitor multiple chemicals in real-time for extended periods.

Frequency combs would be ideal for remote sensors or portable spectrometers because they can enable accurate, real-time monitoring of multiple chemicals without complex moving parts or external equipment. Here we took the hardest problem that limits bandwidth and made it the centerpiece of our study, addressing every step to ensure robust frequency comb operation,” says Qing Hu, Distinguished Professor in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at MIT, principal investigator in the Research Laboratory of Electronics, and senior author on an open-access paper describing the work. Their work opens the door to practical, chip-scale frequency combs for applications ranging from chemical sensing to free-space communications,” says Jacob B. Khurgin, a professor at the Johns Hopkins University Whiting School of Engineering, who was not involved with this paper.

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