Frequency-comb-based absolute frequency measurements in the mid IR with a difference-frequency spectrometer

We demonstrate the possibility of extending the well-established metrological performance of optical frequency-comb synthesizers to the mid-IR region by phase locking the pump and signal lasers of a difference-frequency source to two near-IR teeth of an optical comb. An uncertainty of 800 Hz (1.1×10-11) in the absolute frequencies of CO2 transitions near 4.2 µm has been measured by cavity-enhanced saturated-absorption spectroscopy. Prospects for the creation of a new dense set of high-quality molecular frequency standards in the IR are discussed.