Metrological-grade tunable coherent source in the mid-infrared for molecular precision spectroscopy

We report on a metrological-grade mid-IR source with a 10(-14) short-term instability for high-precision spectroscopy. Our source is based on the combination of a quantum cascade laser and a coherent radiation obtained by difference-frequency generation in an orientation-patterned gallium phosphide (OP-GaP) crystal. The pump and signal lasers are locked to an optical frequency comb referenced to the primary frequency standard via an optical fiber link. We demonstrate the robustness of the apparatus by measuring a vibrational transition around 6 mu m on a metastable state of CO molecuels with 11 digits of precision.