Ultra-broadband quantum infrared spectroscopy extending to 20 {\textmu}m

Abstract

Quantum infrared spectroscopy (QIRS), which exploits quantum interference between photon-pair generation processes, enables infrared spectroscopy using only visible and near-infrared (VNIR) light sources and detectors. Extending the spectral coverage of QIRS into the long-wavelength infrared region up to 20 {\textmu}m is crucial for the identification and characterization of a broad range of materials. However, implementing QIRS beyond 10 {\textmu}m has been challenging because the nonlinear materials used to date do not provide suitable photon-pair sources in this spectral region. Here, we design a wavelength-tunable photon-pair source based on a gallium selenide crystal and develop a QIRS system covering a broad spectral range from 8.6 to 20 {\textmu}m. Using this system, we measure the transmittance spectrum of a polystyrene film and observe characteristic absorption bands beyond 10 {\textmu}m relevant to identifying polystyrene and to probing local chain conformation. These results demonstrate that QIRS is capable of covering the entire molecular fingerprint region.