A New Microsampling Visible-Infrared Spectrometer Based on Optical Parametric
Oscillator Technology
Zifu Wang, George R. Rossman, Geoffrey A. Blake
Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences
California Institute of Technology Pasadena, CA 91125-2500, U.S.A.
Abstract
This article describes the development of a new spectrometer based on tunable
optical parametric oscillators (OPOs). Pumped at 355 or 532 nm, the OPOs,
based on type II phase matching in beta-BaB2O4, cover
the wavelength range from 410 to 3200 nm. To test the feasibility of characterizing
extremely small samples, we conducted absorption spectral measurements in
the near-IR wavelength range on several singlecrystal samples masked with
pinholes of diameters 5-12.5 micrometers. We also discuss potential future
improvements of microsampling OPO spectrometers.