Broadband photon-counting dual-comb spectroscopy with attowatt sensitivity over turbulent optical paths

Wei Zhong; Yingyu Liu; Qin Yin; Ruocan Zhao; Chong Wang; Wei Ren; Xiankang Dou; Xianghui Xue

doi:10.1038/s41377-025-01934-7

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Broadband photon-counting dual-comb spectroscopy with attowatt sensitivity over turbulent optical paths

Original Articles

- Broadband photon-counting dual-comb spectroscopy with attowatt sensitivity over turbulent optical paths
- Light: Science & Applications Vol. 14, Issue 10, Pages: 3111-3119(2025)
- Affiliations：
  
  1.CAS Key Laboratory of Geospace Environment, School of Earth and Space Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, 230026 Hefei, China
  2.Department of Mechanical and Automation Engineering, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, New Territories, Hong Kong SAR, China
  3.Hefei National Laboratory, University of Science and Technology of China, 230088 Hefei, China
  4.Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale and School of Physical Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, 230026 Hefei, China
  5.CAS Center for Excellence in Comparative Planetology, Anhui Mengcheng Geophysics National Observation and Research Station, University of Science and Technology of China, 230026 Hefei, China
  6.Present address: Department of Mechanical and Automation Engineering, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, New Territories, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Author bio：
  
  Ruocan Zhao (canlan@ustc.edu.cn)
  Wei Ren (renwei@mae.cuhk.edu.hk)
  Xianghui Xue (xuexh@ustc.edu.cn)
- Funds：
- DOI：10.1038/s41377-025-01934-7
  CLC：
- Received：20 December 2024，
  
  Revised：2025-05-19，
  
  Accepted：22 June 2025，
  
  Published Online：27 August 2025，
  
  Published：31 October 2025
- Accepted：
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Zhong, W. et al. Broadband photon-counting dual-comb spectroscopy with attowatt sensitivity over turbulent optical paths. Light: Science & Applications, 14, 3111-3119 (2025).
DOI：

Zhong, W. et al. Broadband photon-counting dual-comb spectroscopy with attowatt sensitivity over turbulent optical paths. Light: Science & Applications, 14, 3111-3119 (2025). DOI： 10.1038/s41377-025-01934-7.

摘要

Abstract

Photon-counting dual-comb spectroscopy (DCS) opens new possibilities for deploying DCS in scenarios previously constrained by limited detection sensitivity. However

inevitable optical path fluctuations hinder its practical implementation. Here

we propose a method to ensure the long-term stability of photon-counting DCS

overcoming turbulent optical paths

achieving attowatt-level detection sensitivity and quick acquisition times. Using a compact all-fiber dual-comb system

we achieve 20 nm broadband DCS of H

N across the C-band with an average detected power of only 4 attowatts per-comb line. Despite significant vibrations throughout measurements

the spectra maintain comb-line resolution and shot-noise-limited signal-to-noise ratios. Additionally

the system demonstrates successful deployment in open-path measurements

overcoming 93 dB attenuation. Our approach enables remote sensing of CO

and HDO over a continuous 20-h observation period. This method highlights the potential for applications in fields such as metrology

quantum physics

and atmospheric sensing

especially in turbulent environments like open air or water

within a field-deployable system.

关键词

Keywords

references

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