Cavity-enhanced spectroscopy in the deep cryogenic regime for quantum sensing and metrology
摘要
Spectrometers based on high-finesse optical cavities have proven to be powerful tools for applied and fundamental studies. Extending this technology to the deep cryogenic regime reduces Doppler broadening, enhances peak absorption, narrows the Boltzmann distribution of rotational states and ensures that all unwanted molecular species disturbing the spectra are frozen out. Moreover, the dense spectra of complex polyatomic molecules become easier to assign. Here we demonstrate a cavity-enhanced spectrometer fully operating down to 4 K. This was enabled by uniformly cooling, not only the sample, but the entire cavity. Our approach isolates the cavity from external noise and cryocooler vibrations. We demonstrate the capabilities of our cavity-enhanced spectrometer by performing measurements in the deep cryogenic regime: an accurate test of quantum electrodynamics for molecules; the realization of the primary standards of the International System of Units for temperature, concentration and pressure; a measurement of the dihydrogen phase diagram; and the determination of the ortho-to-para spin-isomer conversion rate.