Power-boosted difference-frequency source for high-resolution infrared spectroscopy

We analyzed the spectroscopic performance of a difference-frequency source that utilizes a 5-W Yb-fiber amplifier for the "signal" radiation in order to increase the "idler" power generated around 4.3 mum. The amplifier is seeded by a monolithic-cavity Nd:YAG laser at 1064 nm. The intensity noise spectral density of the "idler" radiation was characterized. Cavity-enhanced saturated-absorption spectroscopy was also performed to test the frequency resolution. In particular, we observed the Lamb-dip spectrum of the ro-vibrational (00(0)0-00(0)1) R(0) transition of (OCO)-O-17-C-12-O-16 in natural abundance. To our knowledge, this is the first observation of that transition by the Lamb-dip technique.