Cavity-enhanced photoacoustic dual-comb spectroscopy

Abstract Photoacoustic dual-comb spectroscopy (DCS), converting spectral information in the optical frequency domain to the audio frequency domain via multi-heterodyne beating, enables background-free spectral measurements with high resolution and broad bandwidth. However, the detection sensitivity remains limited due to the low power of individual comb lines and the lack of broadband acoustic resonators. Here, we develop cavity-enhanced photoacoustic DCS, which overcomes these limitations by using a high-finesse optical cavity for the power amplification of dual-frequency combs and a broadband acoustic resonator with a flat-top frequency response. We demonstrate high-resolution spectroscopic measurements of trace amounts of C2H2, NH3 and CO in the entire telecommunications C-band. The method shows a minimum detection limit of 0.6 ppb C2H2 at the measurement time of 100 s, corresponding to the noise equivalent absorption coefficient of 7 × 10−10 cm−1. The proposed cavity-enhanced photoacoustic DCS may open new avenues for ultrasensitive, high-resolution, and multi-species gas detection with widespread applications.