Our projects

Cavity Ringdown Spectroscopy

In cavity ringdown (CRD) spectroscopy, tunable coherent light (e.g., from a laser) interacts efficiently with gas-phase molecules in a highly reflective resonant optical cavity. Tuned coherent radiation bounces back and forth in the cavity, travelling many kilometres. Weak absorption spectra (e.g., at low molecular concentration) are then measurable with high sensitivity and photometric precision. The rate at which light 'leaks' out of the cavity is readily converted to an absorption spectrum. The conventional form of CRD spectroscopy employs pulsed coherent light, but new ways to use continuous-wave (cw) sources have been developed. Research on CRD spectroscopy within MOPL has led to compact CRD spectrometer designs based on a rapidly-swept optical cavity, miniature tunable diode lasers, fibre optics, and other optical telecommunications components.

Key features of the MOPL innovations, such as optical-heterodyne detection, allow the optical transmitter and receiver to be located in a single module that is linked to one or more CRD cavities by optical fibres for environmental gas sensing over long distances (up to tens of km). Our recent work in this area has focused on environmental and agricultural applications within the CSIRO Livestock Methane Research Cluster, aiming to remotely monitor atmospheric emissions of methane (a greenhouse gas) from cattle and ammonia (a key source of nitrogen) from fertilised soil and animal wastes. Illustrations concerning this work are shown below.

Relevant publications:

• Y. He, C. Jin, R. Kan, J. Liu, W. Liu, J. Hill, I. M. Jamie, and B. J. Orr, "Remote open-path cavity-ringdown spectroscopic sensing of trace gases in air, based on distributed passive sensors linked by km-long optical fibers," Optics Express 22, 13170 - 13189 (2014).
• B. J. Orr and Y. He, "Rapidly swept continuous-wave cavity-ringdown spectroscopy," Chemical Physics Letters 512, 1 - 20 (2011).
• Y. He, R. Kan, F. V. Englich, W. Liu, and B. J. Orr, "Simultaneous multi-laser, multi-species trace-level sensing of gas mixtures by rapidly swept continuous-wave cavity-ringdown spectroscopy," Optics Express 18, 20059 – 20071 (2010).

Optical Parametric Oscillators

Optical parametric oscillators can efficiently convert a coherent pump-laser wave (frequency ω_P) to two new coherent optical waves: signal (ω_S) and idler (ω_I), such that ω_P = ω_S + ω_I.
The efficiency of the nonlinear-optical process that generates these waves depends on phase-matching conditions that require minimal mismatch Δk between optical wave vectors, i.e., Δk = k_P – k_S – k_I ≈ 0.

Various specially engineered solid-state materials (identified by acronyms such as BBO, PPKTP, PPLN, OP GaAs, etc.) with nonlinear-optical coefficient χ⁽²⁾ can then be placed inside a laser-like optical cavity to optimise the OPO’s optical conversion efficiency and output power.

Signal and idler output from a simple free-running OPO (with no wavelength control elements) tends to be broadband (with a relatively wide spread of output frequencies ω_S and ω_I).

To generate narrower optical bandwidths and to control the output frequencies ω_S and ω_I precisely, optical tuning elements (e.g., étalons and/or gratings) are often inserted into the OPO cavity. However, this introduces losses in the cavity which tend to invite damage to the nonlinear-optical crystal as the threshold for oscillation of the OPO approaches that for optical damage.

Much of the developmental work on OPOs at MOPL has focused on injection seeding (by an external narrowband tunable laser) of an OPO cavity. Such an approach is advantageous because it is modular (with the OPO oscillation/amplification stage separated from the wavelength-control stage). We have shown that wavelength control by injection seeding is readily applicable to OPOs with pulse widths of ~10 ns.

We have demonstrated a simple OPO design, in which a passive multi-mode optical cavity is simultaneously injection-seeded at more than one seed frequency ω_S or ω_I. This is useful for multi-wavelength spectroscopic sensing, as in the case of dual-line spectral OPO CARS (coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering) thermometry of nitrogen in furnace air illustrated below – an example of so-called "spectroscopic tailoring" of an OPO.

Higher spectroscopic resolution and finer tunability of output frequencies ω_S and ω_I generally require active cavity control (e.g., as in the following "intensity-dip" scheme) for single-longitudinal-mode, Fourier-transform-limited, continuously tunable operation of pulsed OPOs.

For example, working with colleagues at ANU, we have used a tunable OPO-based spectroscopic source of coherent, narrowband, deep-UV light in ionisation-detected, two-photon excitation studies of atomic xenon (Xe) in high-energy Rydberg levels; we have resolved and characterised isotope energy shifts and hyperfine structure in this region for the first time (see below). Ongoing work in this area has implemented a time-of-flight mass-selective detection system to discriminate individual Xe isotopes and thereby further resolve spectroscopic details. Subsequent time-of-flight mass-resolved experiments have yielded high-resolution spectra of molecular oxygen (O₂) in high-energy Rydberg levels, revealing rotational-state-dependent line shapes attributed to predissociation.

Relevant publications:

• M.Kono, Y.He, B.R.Lewis, S.T.Gibson, K.G.H.Baldwin, and B.J.Orr, "Two-photon excitation of two Rydberg levels of O₂ above 95 130 cm^–1: rotational state dependence of predissociation linewidths," Journal of Quantitative Spectroscopy and Radiative Transfer 244, 106841/1 – 10684/10 (2020).
• M.Kono, Y.He, K.G.H.Baldwin and B.J.Orr, "Sub-Doppler two-photon-excitation Rydberg spectroscopy of atomic xenon: mass-selective studies of isotopic and hyperfine structure," J. Physics B: Atomic Molecular & Optical Physics 49, 065002/1 – 065002/15 (2016).
• B.J.Orr, J.G.Haub, Y.He and R.T.White, “Spectroscopic applications of tunable optical parametric oscillators,” in Tunable Laser Applications, 3rd edn., ed. F.J.Duarte (CRC Press, New York, 2016; ISBN 9781498788144), Ch. 2, pp. 17–142 (including 666 references).
• M.Kono, Y.He, K.G.H.Baldwin and B.J.Orr, "Sub-Doppler two-photon spectroscopy of 33 Rydberg levels in atomic xenon excited at 205–213 nm: diverse isotopic and hyperfine structure," J. Physics B: Atomic Molecular & Optical Physics 46, 035401/1 – 035401/16 (2013).
• B. J. Orr and Y. He, "Tunable nonlinear-optical devices for laser-spectroscopic sensing," in Nonlinear Frequency Generation and Conversion: Materials, Devices, and Applications IX, ed. P. E. Powers, Proceedings of SPIE 7582, 75820J/1 – 75820J/14 (2010).
• Y. He, P. Wang, R. T. White, and B. J. Orr, "Spectroscopic applications of optical parametric oscillators," Optics and Photonics News, 13 (5), pp. 56 – 60 & 76 (May, 2002).
• G. W. Baxter, M. J. Johnson, J. G. Haub, and B. J. Orr, "OPO CARS: coherent anti-Stokes Raman spectroscopy using tunable optical parametric oscillators injection-seeded by external-cavity diode lasers," Chemical Physics Letters 251, 211 – 218 (1996).

Optical Double Resonance Spectroscopy

The MOPL research group has a long history of advanced experiments that use high-performance pulsed lasers to prepare a small molecule in a specific, well-characterised quantum state and then (after a controlled delay period Δt during which gas-phase collisions can occur) to probe (e.g., by means of laser-induced fluorescence, LIF) the distribution of final-state populations that occur. Such approaches have several advantages:

• For short pump-probe delay periods Δt, the pump-then-probe technique enables unambiguous identification of features in highly congested molecular spectra. Such features can be displayed by continuously scanning the optical frequency of either the pump excitation source or the spectroscopic probe.
• As the pump-probe delay period Δt increases, the pump-then-probe technique discerns various satellite peaks that grow into the double-resonance spectrum, owing to various forms of collision-induced state-to-state energy transfer.
• By continuously scanning the pump-probe delay period Δt, with pump and probe frequencies fixed, it is possible to generate sets of characteristic kinetic curves that can be modelled in terms of appropriate collision-induced energy-transfer mechanisms.
• In some cases (for instance, in quantised energy manifolds of molecular states that are affected by strong intra-molecular perturbations), previously unexpected forms collision-induced energy-transfer mechanism are found to arise, some of them with significant photochemical implications.
• Such gas-phase studies of collision-induced state-to-state energy transfer channels can complement full-scale molecular-beam experiments and serve as precursors for more advanced molecular investigations.

Much early progress in this area was made by the MOPL research group by using particular fixed infrared (IR) output wavelengths of a pulsed, line-tunable carbon dioxide (CO₂) laser to prepare specific rovibrational (rotational-vibrational) quantum states of the gas-phase formaldehyde-d₂ (D₂CO) molecule. After a controlled delay period Δt (during which gas-phase collisions can occur), tunable ultraviolet (UV) light from a pulsed dye laser is then used to excite UV laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) and thereby probe the collision-induced distribution of final rovibrational-state populations. This time-resolved IR-UV DR approach has attained several goals (as illustrated below):

• Definitive identification of features in the highly congested 4₁⁰ and 6₁⁰ hot bands at a near-UV wavelength of ~365 nm in the congested rovibronic (rotational-vibrational-electronic) spectrum of D₂CO. Likewise, coincidences between the CO₂-laser spectrum and particular features in the ν₄ (out-of-plane CD₂ wag) and ν₆ (in-plane CD₂ wag) rovibrational spectra at a mid-IR wavelength of ~10.6 μm.
• Characterisation of collision-induced rotational energy transfer between states within a particular D₂CO vibrational level (ν₄ or ν₆), as well as analysis of associated Δt-scanned kinetic curves.
• Characterisation of unusually efficient collision-induced rovibrational V–V energy transfer between specific rotational states of the ν₄ and ν₆ vibrational levels of D₂CO, owing to strong Coriolis-coupling effects, which have been mechanistically analysed and kinetically modelled.

Relevant publications:

• B.J.Orr, "Collision-induced rovibrational energy transfer in small polyatomic molecules: the role of intramolecular perturbations," Molecular Physics 116, 3666–3700 (2018).
• B. J. Orr, "Time-resolved infrared-ultraviolet double-resonance spectroscopy of formaldehyde-d₂," International Reviews in Physical Chemistry 9, 67–1138 (1990).
• J.G.Haub and B.J.Orr, "Coriolis-assisted vibrational energy transfer in D₂CO / D₂CO and HDCO / HDCO collisions: experiment and theory," J. Chem. Phys. 86, 3380–3409 (1987).
• B.J.Orr and I.W.M.Smith, "Collision-induced vibrational energy transfer in small polyatomic molecules," J. Phys. Chem. 91, 6106–6119 (1987).

A more recent extensive body of work by the MOPL research group concerns UV LIF-detected time-resolved optical double resonance spectroscopy of the acetylene molecule (C₂H₂ and its deuterated modifications, C₂D₂ and C₂HD). Apart from early experiments using a pulsed, line-tunable CO₂ laser for state preparation, two continuously tunable modes of rovibrational-state preparation have been used: IR-UV DR, involving excitation of CH-stretching overtone/combination-band transitions using tunable near-IR lasers excitation; Raman-UV DR, involving coherent-Raman excitation of C≡C-stretching fundamental-band transitions at the difference frequency of two coincident laser pulses (one with the fixed wavelength, the other tunable). These time-resolved IR-UV DR and Raman-UV DR approaches have made much progress (as illustrated below):

• Confirmation and identification of many details of the rovibrational and rovibronic spectra of C₂H₂.
• IR-UV DR spectra and their collision-induced rovibrational energy-transfer kinetics reveal severe complexities in high-energy overtone/combination-band rovibrational levels of C₂H₂, where various conventional quantum numbers and symmetries are spoiled by strong intra-molecular perturbations. This gives rise to apparently unusual phenomena such as odd-ΔJ rotational energy transfer (where only even-ΔJ transfer is usually expected) and puzzling collision-induced quasi-continuous background effects which are likely to be significant in the context of state-specific photochemistry.
• Owing to the mutual exclusion principle, Raman-UV DR spectra access a C₂H₂ rovibrational manifold of different symmetry to that accessed by IR-UV DR. A simple but technically significant example illustrated below entails coherent-Raman excitation of cold C₂H₂ molecules in a skimmed, collimated molecular beam – this offers prospects for beam-gas or crossed-beam experiments involving Raman-selected molecules.

Relevant publications:

• B.J.Orr, "Collision-induced rovibrational energy transfer in small polyatomic molecules: the role of intramolecular perturbations, "Molecular Physics 116, 3666–3700 (2018).
• B.J.Orr, "Spectroscopy and energetics of the acetylene molecule: dynamical complexity alongside structural simplicity," International Reviews in Physical Chemistry 25, 655–718 (2006).
• M.A.Payne, A.P.Milce, M.J.Frost and B.J.Orr, "Rovibrational energy transfer in the 4ν_CH manifold of acetylene viewed by IR-UV double resonance spectroscopy. 5. Detailed kinetic model," Journal of Physical Chemistry A 111, 12839–12853 (2007).
• M.A.Payne, A.P.Milce, M.J.Frost and B.J.Orr, "Rovibrational energy transfer in the 4ν_CH manifold of acetylene viewed by IR-UV double resonance spectroscopy. 4. Collision-induced quasi-continuous background effects," J. Physical Chemistry A 110, 3307–3319 (2006).
• M.A.Payne, A.P.Milce, M.J.Frost and B.J.Orr, "Rovibrational energy transfer in the 4ν_CH manifold of acetylene, viewed by IR-UV double resonance spectroscopy. 3. State-to-state J-resolved kinetics," Zeitscrift für Physikalische. Chemie 219, 601–633 (2005).
• M.A.Payne, A.P.Milce, M.J.Frost and B.J.Orr, "Rovibrational energy transfer in the 4ν_CH manifold of acetylene viewed by IR-UV double resonance spectroscopy. 2. Perturbed states with J = 17 and 18," J. Physical Chemistry. B 109, 8332–8343 (2005).
• M.A.Payne, A.P.Milce, M.J.Frost and B.J.Orr, "Rovibrational energy transfer in the 4ν_CH manifold of acetylene, viewed by IR-UV double resonance spectroscopy. 1. Foundation studies at low J," J. Physical Chemistry A 107, 10759–10770 (2003).
• H.-D.Barth, A.P.Milce, B.L.Chadwick and B. J. Orr, "Raman-ultraviolet double-resonance spectroscopy of acetylene in a skimmed molecular beam," J. Chem. Soc., Faraday Transactions 88, 2563–2564 (1992).

Remote Optical-Fibre Frequency Transfer

Optical fibres have been widely used within the MOPL research group for transmission of coherent light over long distances (e.g., in our CRDS work – see above). In a collaborative ARC-funded Linkage Project, we have developed new methods for high-fidelity long-distance transfer of a discrete radio-frequency (RF) or optical frequency over optical fibres, with particular reference to the needs of radioastronomy and metrology. Our RF-over-fibre technique, illustrated below, comprises a phase-conjugate photonic scheme for high-fidelity RF-over-fibre frequency transfer that has promising applications as a cost-effective way to control VLBI (very large baseline interferometry) arrays of radio-telescopes. Our most significant results (recently published) were obtained over a two-way distance of ~310 km at the CSIRO’s ATNF (Australia Telescope National Facility) spanning the Narrabri and Mopra areas of northern NSW. They demonstrate operation of VLBI arrays with fewer expensive hydrogen-maser frequency references. This has been reported by OSA’s Optics and Photonics News: “A team of scientists in Australia has now demonstrated an approach for reliably transmitting such a frequency reference across hundreds of kilometers of installed, standard telecom fiber – even when the fiber is simultaneously transmitting live telecom traffic.”

Relevant publications:

• Y.He, B.J.Orr, K.G.H.Baldwin, R.B.Warrington, M.J.Wouters, A.N.Luiten, P.Mirtschin, T.Tzioumis, C.Phillips, J.Stevens, B.Lennon, S.Munting, G.Aben, T.Newlands and T.Rayner, "Long-distance telecom-fiber transfer of a radio-frequency reference for radio astronomy," Optica 5, 138–146 (2018).
• Y.He, B.J.Orr, K.G.H.Baldwin, M.J.Wouters, A.Luiten, G.Aben and R.B.Warrington, "Stable radio-frequency transfer over optical fiber by phase-conjugate frequency mixing," Optics Express 21, 18754–18764 (2013).
• S.Schediwy, D.Gozzard, K.G.H.Baldwin, B.J.Orr, R.B.Warrington, G.Aben and A.Luiten, "High-precision optical-frequency dissemination on branching optical-fiber networks," Optics Letters 38, 2893–2896 (2013).