Ultraviolet astronomical spectrograph calibration with laser frequency combs from nanophotonic lithium niobate waveguides
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.
2-s2.0-85202914843
39223131
Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron (DESY)
École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne
Faculty of Science
Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron (DESY)
Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron (DESY)
Centre Suisse d'Electronique et de Microtechnique SA
Chalmers University of Technology
Chalmers University of Technology
Faculty of Science
Faculty of Science
2024-12-01
15
1
7614
REVIEWED
EPFL
Funder | Funding(s) | Grant Number | Grant URL |
European Research Council | |||
EPFL Center of MicroNanoTechnology | |||
Swiss National Science Foundation | BLUVES CRSII5_193689 | ||
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