Dual-Comb Spectroscopy

The Hanson lab utilizes the technique of frequency mixing in dual-comb spectroscopy (or DCS) as a diagnostic in energy systems.

While most laser diagnostics use single-wavelength diagnostics to probe a reacting gas mixture, DCS uses the power of frequency combs to measure multi-wavelengths simultaneously. Our lab focuses on the use of quantum-cascade lasers for DCS in collaboration with the Swiss laser manufacturer IRsweep. This technology enables the ability to measure temperature, composition, and more using a very compact setup.

Applications our lab has investigated relate to methane combustion, specialty rocket fuels (propyne), and high-temperature chemistry of one of the most important greenhouse gases – nitrous oxide.

In our recent work, we used DCS to provide methane pyrolysis data at an incredible 4μs resolution, providing a key tool for studying combustion chemistry.

thermometry during a non-reactive shock tube experiment — Thermometry during a non-reactive shock tube experiment using DCS [1]

To learn more, check out some of our publications:

[1] Pinkowski, N. H., Biswas, P., Shao, J., Strand, C. L., and Hanson, R. K., “Thermometry and speciation for high-temperature and -pressure methane pyrolysis using shock tubes and dual-comb spectroscopy,” Measurement Science and Technology, vol. 32, 2021. DOI: 10.1088/1361-6501/ac22ef

[2] Pinkowski, N. H., Ding, Y., Strand, C. L., Hanson, R. K., Horvath, R., and Geiser, M., “Dual-comb spectroscopy for high-temperature reaction kinetics,” Measurement Science and Technology, vol. 31, May 2020, p. 055501. DOI: 10.1088/1361-6501/ab6ecc