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Precision Spectroscopy Now Possible Under Starved-Light Conditions

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Saturday, April 20, 2024

An ultraviolet photon-counting dual-comb spectrometer. Two ultraviolet frequency combs of slightly different pulse repetition frequencies are generated at very low light levels by nonlinear frequency conversion of near-infrared combs. One ultraviolet comb passes through a sample. The two feeble combs are then superimposed with a beam splitter and detected by a photon-counting detector. At power levels more than one million times weaker than usually employed, the statistics of the detected photons carries the information about the sample with its possibly highly complex optical spectrum. Credit: T.W. Hänsch (MPI of Quantum Optics) and N. Picqué (MPI of Quantum Optics, Max Born Institute).In a study recently published in Nature, researchers from the Max Born Institute in Berlin, Germany, and the Max-Planck Institute of Quantum Optics in Garching have unveiled a new technique for deciphering the properties of matter with light, that can simultaneously detect and precisely quantify many substances with a high chemical selectivity.Their technique interrogates the atoms and molecules in the ultraviolet spectral region at very feeble light levels. Using two optical frequency combs and a photon counter, the experiments open up exciting prospects for conducting dual-comb spectroscopy in low-light conditions and they pave the way for novel applications of photon-level diagnostics, such as precision spectroscopy of single atoms or molecules for fundamental tests of physics and ultraviolet photochemistry in the Earth’s atmosphere or from space telescopes.Advancements in Ultraviolet SpectroscopyUltraviolet spectroscopy plays a critical role in the study of electronic transitions in atoms and rovibronic transitions in molecules. These studies are essential for tests of fundamental physics, quantum-electrodynamics theory, determination of fundamental constants, precision measurements, optical clocks, high-resolution spectroscopy in support of atmospheric chemistry and astrophysics, and strong-field physics. Scientists in the group of Nathalie Picqué have now made a significant leap in the field of ultraviolet spectroscopy by successfully implementing high-resolution linear-absorption dual-comb spectroscopy in the ultraviolet spectral range. This groundbreaking achievement opens up new possibilities for performing experiments under low-light conditions, paving the way for novel applications in various scientific and technological fields.Principles and Challenges of Dual-Comb SpectroscopyDual-comb spectroscopy, a powerful technique for precise spectroscopy over broad spectral bandwidths, has been mainly used for infrared linear absorption of small molecules in the gas phase. It relies on measuring the time-dependent interference between two frequency combs with slightly different repetition frequencies. A frequency comb is a spectrum of evenly spaced, phase-coherent laser lines, that acts like a ruler to measure the frequency of light with extreme precision. The dual-comb technique does not suffer from the geometric limitations associated with traditional spectrometers, and offers great potential for high precision and accuracy.However, dual-comb spectroscopy typically requires intense laser beams, making it less suitable for scenarios where low light levels are critical. The team has now experimentally demonstrated that dual-comb spectroscopy can be effectively employed in starved-light conditions, at power levels more than a million times weaker than those typically used.This breakthrough was achieved using two distinct experimental setups with different types of frequency-comb generators. The team developed a photon-level interferometer that accurately records the statistics of photon counting, showcasing a signal-to-noise ratio at the fundamental limit. This achievement highlights the optimal use of available light for experiments, and opens up the prospect of dual-comb spectroscopy in challenging scenarios where low light levels are essential.Overcoming Technical Challenges and Future ApplicationsThe researchers addressed the challenges associated with generating ultraviolet frequency combs and building dual-comb interferometers with long coherence times, paving the way for advances in this coveted goal. They exquisitely controlled the mutual coherence of two comb lasers with one femtowatt per comb line, demonstrating an optimal build-up of the counting statistics of their interference signal over times exceeding one hour. “Our innovative approach to low-light interferometry overcomes the challenges posed by the low efficiency of nonlinear frequency conversion, and lays a solid foundation for extending dual-comb spectroscopy to even shorter wavelengths,” comments Bingxin Xu, the post-doctoral scientist who led the experiments.Indeed, a compelling future application is the development of dual-comb spectroscopy at short wavelengths, to enable precise vacuum- and extreme-ultraviolet molecular spectroscopy over broad spectral spans. Currently, broadband extreme-UV spectroscopy is limited in resolution and accuracy, and relies on unique instrumentation at specialized facilities.“Ultraviolet dual-comb spectroscopy, while a challenging goal, has now become a realistic one as a result of our research. Importantly, our results extend the full capabilities of dual-comb spectroscopy to low-light conditions, unlocking novel applications in precision spectroscopy, biomedical sensing, and environmental atmospheric sounding. On a more personal note, this milestone results from an experiment performed at the Max-Planck Institute of Quantum Optics and completed whereas I had already taken up my position of director at the Max Born Institute. I can not imagine a more thrilling way to transition to a new institute. MBI will now host our next exciting experiments in this field!” Nathalie Picqué concludes.The development of dual-comb spectroscopy in the short wavelength range promises advances in several scientific and technological fields, underscoring the importance of this achievement.Reference: “Near-ultraviolet photon-counting dual-comb spectroscopy” by Bingxin Xu, Zaijun Chen, Theodor W. Hänsch and Nathalie Picqué, 6 March 2024, Nature.DOI: 10.1038/s41586-024-07094-9

In a study recently published in Nature, researchers from the Max Born Institute in Berlin, Germany, and the Max-Planck Institute of Quantum Optics in Garching...

Ultraviolet Photon Counting Dual Comb Spectrometer

An ultraviolet photon-counting dual-comb spectrometer. Two ultraviolet frequency combs of slightly different pulse repetition frequencies are generated at very low light levels by nonlinear frequency conversion of near-infrared combs. One ultraviolet comb passes through a sample. The two feeble combs are then superimposed with a beam splitter and detected by a photon-counting detector. At power levels more than one million times weaker than usually employed, the statistics of the detected photons carries the information about the sample with its possibly highly complex optical spectrum. Credit: T.W. Hänsch (MPI of Quantum Optics) and N. Picqué (MPI of Quantum Optics, Max Born Institute).

In a study recently published in Nature, researchers from the Max Born Institute in Berlin, Germany, and the Max-Planck Institute of Quantum Optics in Garching have unveiled a new technique for deciphering the properties of matter with light, that can simultaneously detect and precisely quantify many substances with a high chemical selectivity.

Their technique interrogates the atoms and molecules in the ultraviolet spectral region at very feeble light levels. Using two optical frequency combs and a photon counter, the experiments open up exciting prospects for conducting dual-comb spectroscopy in low-light conditions and they pave the way for novel applications of photon-level diagnostics, such as precision spectroscopy of single atoms or molecules for fundamental tests of physics and ultraviolet photochemistry in the Earth’s atmosphere or from space telescopes.

Advancements in Ultraviolet Spectroscopy

Ultraviolet spectroscopy plays a critical role in the study of electronic transitions in atoms and rovibronic transitions in molecules. These studies are essential for tests of fundamental physics, quantum-electrodynamics theory, determination of fundamental constants, precision measurements, optical clocks, high-resolution spectroscopy in support of atmospheric chemistry and astrophysics, and strong-field physics.

Scientists in the group of Nathalie Picqué have now made a significant leap in the field of ultraviolet spectroscopy by successfully implementing high-resolution linear-absorption dual-comb spectroscopy in the ultraviolet spectral range. This groundbreaking achievement opens up new possibilities for performing experiments under low-light conditions, paving the way for novel applications in various scientific and technological fields.

Principles and Challenges of Dual-Comb Spectroscopy

Dual-comb spectroscopy, a powerful technique for precise spectroscopy over broad spectral bandwidths, has been mainly used for infrared linear absorption of small molecules in the gas phase. It relies on measuring the time-dependent interference between two frequency combs with slightly different repetition frequencies. A frequency comb is a spectrum of evenly spaced, phase-coherent laser lines, that acts like a ruler to measure the frequency of light with extreme precision. The dual-comb technique does not suffer from the geometric limitations associated with traditional spectrometers, and offers great potential for high precision and accuracy.

However, dual-comb spectroscopy typically requires intense laser beams, making it less suitable for scenarios where low light levels are critical. The team has now experimentally demonstrated that dual-comb spectroscopy can be effectively employed in starved-light conditions, at power levels more than a million times weaker than those typically used.

This breakthrough was achieved using two distinct experimental setups with different types of frequency-comb generators. The team developed a photon-level interferometer that accurately records the statistics of photon counting, showcasing a signal-to-noise ratio at the fundamental limit. This achievement highlights the optimal use of available light for experiments, and opens up the prospect of dual-comb spectroscopy in challenging scenarios where low light levels are essential.

Overcoming Technical Challenges and Future Applications

The researchers addressed the challenges associated with generating ultraviolet frequency combs and building dual-comb interferometers with long coherence times, paving the way for advances in this coveted goal. They exquisitely controlled the mutual coherence of two comb lasers with one femtowatt per comb line, demonstrating an optimal build-up of the counting statistics of their interference signal over times exceeding one hour. “Our innovative approach to low-light interferometry overcomes the challenges posed by the low efficiency of nonlinear frequency conversion, and lays a solid foundation for extending dual-comb spectroscopy to even shorter wavelengths,” comments Bingxin Xu, the post-doctoral scientist who led the experiments.

Indeed, a compelling future application is the development of dual-comb spectroscopy at short wavelengths, to enable precise vacuum- and extreme-ultraviolet molecular spectroscopy over broad spectral spans. Currently, broadband extreme-UV spectroscopy is limited in resolution and accuracy, and relies on unique instrumentation at specialized facilities.

“Ultraviolet dual-comb spectroscopy, while a challenging goal, has now become a realistic one as a result of our research. Importantly, our results extend the full capabilities of dual-comb spectroscopy to low-light conditions, unlocking novel applications in precision spectroscopy, biomedical sensing, and environmental atmospheric sounding. On a more personal note, this milestone results from an experiment performed at the Max-Planck Institute of Quantum Optics and completed whereas I had already taken up my position of director at the Max Born Institute. I can not imagine a more thrilling way to transition to a new institute. MBI will now host our next exciting experiments in this field!” Nathalie Picqué concludes.

The development of dual-comb spectroscopy in the short wavelength range promises advances in several scientific and technological fields, underscoring the importance of this achievement.

Reference: “Near-ultraviolet photon-counting dual-comb spectroscopy” by Bingxin Xu, Zaijun Chen, Theodor W. Hänsch and Nathalie Picqué, 6 March 2024, Nature.
DOI: 10.1038/s41586-024-07094-9

Read the full story here.
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Time Spent in Nature is Good for Your Brain, but an Excess Can Negate These Benefits

A “Goldilocks” measure of green space might help stave off dementia, but an excess could lead to cognitive decline

Time Spent in Nature Can Be Good—and Sometimes Bad— for Your BrainA “Goldilocks” measure of green space might help stave off dementia, but an excess could lead to cognitive declineBy Teresa Schubert edited by Gary StixThere's nothing like a good walk through your local park to unwind and release stress from a busy day. Taking some time in nature is undeniably good for you, with well-documented benefits to physical and mental health. But new research suggests that when it comes to the risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, easy access to nature can sometimes help but, at other times, can be too much of a good thing.The causes of dementia—a broad category of conditions that can affect memory, language and other brain capacities—are multifaceted and complex. There is often a genetic component, but there are also contributions from health risk factors that arise throughout life. In 2024 the Lancet Commission on dementia identified 14 such factors that reliably increase the risk of developing dementia. These include physical health factors such as cardiovascular disease, high LDL cholesterol, diabetes, and obesity and traumatic brain injury, as well as psychological factors such as depression and social isolation.Thousands of studies provide solid evidence about the dangers of these risk factors, but researchers are far from having all the answers about dementia. In the past 10 or so years, researchers have begun looking beyond these established risks to the effect of an individual’s physical and social environment, which might be more under our control than factors such as genetic predisposition. You might not be able to change your genes, but in some cases, you can change where you live or your hobbies or habits. According to Marco Vinceti of the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia in Italy, “there is growing and convincing evidence that risk of neurodegenerative disease, including cognitive impairment and dementia, can be substantially reduced by environmental and behavioral factors, and this may even be true in individuals having high genetic susceptibility.” Studying the role of environmental factors has led to the recent discovery that exposure to air pollution (such as from wildfire smoke or heavy traffic) increases your chances of developing dementia. This is also the line of questioning that led researchers to discover the positive effects of green space.On supporting science journalismIf you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.The benefits of green space for mental and brain health are numerous. Living near and spending time in green space (including parks, wooded areas and even farmland) can decrease the risk of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes and is associated with a lower risk of Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia later in life. According to Anjum Hajat, an epidemiologist at the University of Washington School of Public Health, access to green space “is important because it provides people with an easy, low-cost option to improve their health. Spending time in nature may have other benefits, too, like increasing physical activity or increasing time spent with friends and family; both of these things have many health benefits.”Based on this research, you might be ready to give up city life. You might presume that more green space is better, and that living on a few wooded acres with nothing but trees for miles around will lead to the lowest possible chance of dementia. It turns out this is not so simple. A 2022 research study led by Federico Zagnoli of the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia revealed that more green space is not always better. The researchers found a U-shaped association between exposure to green space and dementia risk—low levels of green space were associated with a higher likelihood of developing dementia, and medium levels were linked to a lower risk. But the highest level of green space exposure didn’t reduce dementia risk relative to the medium level—and in some cases even increased it! In other words, too little green space has an adverse effect, but so might too much of it.Why might more of a good thing be bad? Living out in nature can mean lower access to medical and social services, fewer places to socialize and higher chances of social isolation—circumstances that would otherwise support brain health and reduce dementia risk. Although research on some of these factors is still ongoing and not yet certain, there is solid evidence for the risks of social isolation. As Vinceti puts it, “The higher risk of dementia associated with ‘extremely high’ green spaces around the place of residence is likely attributable to social isolation and socioeconomic disadvantage in certain rural areas. Rurality may also be correlated with other risk factors, such as lower socioeconomic status or high pesticide exposure.” So the conclusion is that green space itself is not bad for your brain health, but living on a few acres of land surrounded by forest and farmland might increase your risk of dementia in other ways. Although trees have a positive effect, they are no substitute for a nearby hospital, local community center and a walkable neighborhood with friendly neighbors. Aiming for the lowest possible dementia risk is all about a balance: enough neighborhood density to have easy access to services and social support but plenty of trees for a walk in the park..

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How Nature Enabled Freedom for Groundbreaking American Women

From our collaborating partner “Living on Earth,” public radio’s environmental news magazine, an interview by Paloma Beltran with Tiya Miles, a professor of history at Harvard and author of “Wild Girls: How the Outdoors Shaped the Woman Who Challenged the Nation.” Harriet Tubman talked about how she was a “neglected weed.” She recognized the way […]

From Harriet Tubman to Louisa May Alcott, the natural world was a catalyst to slipping their bonds.Interview by Paloma BeltranFrom our collaborating partner “Living on Earth,” public radio’s environmental news magazine, an interview by Paloma Beltran with Tiya Miles, a professor of history at Harvard and author of “Wild Girls: How the Outdoors Shaped the Woman Who Challenged the Nation.”

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Defra asks England’s biggest landowners to come up with plans to restore nature

Exclusive: Representatives of king, National Trust and others called on to work together to protect environmentUK politics live – latest updatesSteve Reed called in some of England’s biggest landowners for a meeting on Thursday, asking them to come up with meaningful plans to restore nature on their estates.Representatives for King Charles and Prince William were among those at the meeting, asked by the environment secretary to draft new land management plans to help meet the country’s legal Environment Act targets. Continue reading...

Steve Reed called in some of England’s biggest landowners for a meeting on Thursday, asking them to come up with meaningful plans to restore nature on their estates.Representatives for King Charles and Prince William were among those at the meeting, asked by the environment secretary to draft new land management plans to help meet the country’s legal Environment Act targets.The landowners also included third-sector organisations such as the National Trust, RSPB and the Wildlife Trusts, along with representatives from the government estate such as the Ministry of Defence and Natural England.Between them, the assembled “National Estate for Nature” group own 10% of England’s land, making their cooperation crucial if ministers are to meet legally binding environment targets and stop the decline of nature.Reed called them to action to collectively protect and restore nature on their estates across England, asking them to report back on potential new approaches for sustainable land use, land management, change, or investment. He said the group should set minimum standards for land management plans, with clear milestones for nature restoration and protections.He said: “Landowners must go further and faster to restore our natural world. The National Estate for Nature, who manage a tenth of the land in this country, have a responsibility to future generations to leave the environment in a better state. We have a unique opportunity to work together on common sense changes that create a win-win for nature, the economy, and make the best use of the land around us.”Just 8% of the land and sea in England is protected for nature. The government has a target to reach 30% by 2030, but wildlife groups say the proportion of land “effectively protected” for nature is even lower than the official statistic, at 2.93%. Nature across England continues to be in decline, with wild bird numbers decreasing each year. The 2023 state of nature report described the UK as one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world, based on declines since the 1970s.The Labour government hopes to accelerate efforts to meet these targetsand recently legalised the wild release of beavers and announced a land use framework that will provide guidance on how to best use land for food and nature.The environmental campaigner Guy Shrubsole said: “Major landowners in England like the Forestry Commission, crown estate and water companies own millions of acres of land – it’s only right that we expect them to repair the badly damaged habitats that they own.”He argued that large landowners should make their plans to protect nature public so that they can be scrutinised and held to account: “The government must mandate these landowners to publish their plans for nature restoration, so the public can see how the land is being looked after on our behalf – and change the outdated legal duties of public bodies to prioritise restoring ecosystems and fixing the climate crisis.”skip past newsletter promotionThe planet's most important stories. Get all the week's environment news - the good, the bad and the essentialPrivacy Notice: Newsletters may contain info about charities, online ads, and content funded by outside parties. For more information see our Privacy Policy. We use Google reCaptcha to protect our website and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.after newsletter promotionHarry Bowell, the director of land and nature at the National Trust, said: “We are delighted to join the National Estate for Nature group, bringing the National Trust’s stewardship of 250,000 hectares to the table. As the government’s land use framework makes clear, a transformation in the use of land is needed if we are to meet our nature and climate targets. The biggest landowners – us included – have the power, and responsibility, to drive forward that transformation.”Further quarterly meetings are expected to focus on developing and implementing agreed on-the-ground plans to drive nature’s recovery.

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Labour’s push for economic growth at the expense of climate and nature is “extremely dangerous”, the co-leader of the Green party has said.Adrian Ramsay, the MP for Waveney Valley between Norfolk and Suffolk, was one of the five Green MPs elected to parliament last July in their best ever result. He said and his colleagues knew they would be holding Labour to account, but did not expect to be as disappointed as they have been.In recent weeks, Labour has given the green light to airport expansion and vowed to change planning rules to deprioritise nature, while ministers have repeatedly disparaged bats and newts and ridiculed measures to protect fish. 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There’s been a cross-party group with the other four parties in East Anglia, working on these issues for some time.” He said the party was “selling people a pup” because “they’re trying to pretend that they’re there to support the ordinary person, but their policies would undermine the NHS, allow the ultra-rich plutocrats from abroad to buy up our democracy, and crucially, would stop the drive for net zero, which will bring down people’s bills and keep people’s homes warm.”There are also rumours that Labour is considering weakening plans aimed at ensuring all new homes are powered by renewables. Government sources say new homes will be “technology agnostic”, allowing housebuilders to meet climate targets how they like, rather than mandating solar panels and heat pumps.skip past newsletter promotionThe planet's most important stories. Get all the week's environment news - the good, the bad and the essentialPrivacy Notice: Newsletters may contain info about charities, online ads, and content funded by outside parties. For more information see our Privacy Policy. We use Google reCaptcha to protect our website and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.after newsletter promotion“It would be an absolute outrage if the Labour government does not require renewable energy in all new homes,” Ramsay said. “People say to me all the time, why on earth are we seeing new homes being built without solar panels, without renewable heating systems? And the only reason the government wouldn’t do this is if they caved into the developers, because it’s a win-win all the way around.”Ramsay said he would continue to challenge Miliband. “My challenge to Ed Miliband is, don’t undermine the whole of your national strategy by allowing this major airport expansion to go ahead,” he said.“Don’t allow the whole of your carbon plan to be completely undermined by allowing the new Rosebank oilfield. They’re failing to focus on energy efficiency, how we insulate people’s homes to bring bills down, you’ve got to look at energy reduction as well as renewables if we’re going to deliver a green future.“And in terms of nature, they’re actively opposing the nature restoration agenda with this damaging suggestion that that economic success and nature are somehow at loggerheads. So that’s what’s led environmental campaigners like George Monbiot to increasingly suggest that Labour may be even worse on the environment than the Conservatives were.”

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A Story About Salmon That Almost Had a Happy Ending

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