Quantum correlation-enhanced dual-comb spectroscopy

Abstract Dual-comb spectroscopy (DCS) is a powerful technique for spectroscopic sensing, offering exceptional spectral bandwidth, resolution, precision, and speed. However, its performance is fundamentally limited by quantum noise inherent to coherent-state optical combs. Here, we overcome this barr...

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Main Authors: Zhuoren Wan, Yuan Chen, Xiuxiu Zhang, Ming Yan, Heping Zeng
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Publishing Group 2025-08-01
Series:Light: Science & Applications
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41377-025-01891-1
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author Zhuoren Wan
Yuan Chen
Xiuxiu Zhang
Ming Yan
Heping Zeng
author_facet Zhuoren Wan
Yuan Chen
Xiuxiu Zhang
Ming Yan
Heping Zeng
author_sort Zhuoren Wan
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Dual-comb spectroscopy (DCS) is a powerful technique for spectroscopic sensing, offering exceptional spectral bandwidth, resolution, precision, and speed. However, its performance is fundamentally limited by quantum noise inherent to coherent-state optical combs. Here, we overcome this barrier by introducing quantum correlation-enhanced DCS using correlated twin combs generated via seeded four-wave mixing. One comb acts as a local oscillator to decode molecular signals, while the twin suppresses shot noise through intensity-difference squeezing, achieving a 2 dB signal-to-noise ratio improvement beyond the shot-noise limit—equivalent to a 2.6× measurement speed enhancement. Notably, when coupled with up-conversion spectroscopy, our technique records comb-line-resolved, high-resolution (7.5 pm) spectra in the critical 3 μm region for molecular fingerprinting. These results bridge quantum optics and frequency comb spectroscopy, offering great potential for trace gas detection, precision metrology, and chemical analysis. Future developments in detector efficiency and nanophotonic integration could further enhance its scalability and impact.
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institution Kabale University
issn 2047-7538
language English
publishDate 2025-08-01
publisher Nature Publishing Group
record_format Article
series Light: Science & Applications
spelling doaj-art-ce0c52059b0848ae983ffcf504499b292025-08-20T03:43:34ZengNature Publishing GroupLight: Science & Applications2047-75382025-08-011411910.1038/s41377-025-01891-1Quantum correlation-enhanced dual-comb spectroscopyZhuoren Wan0Yuan Chen1Xiuxiu Zhang2Ming Yan3Heping Zeng4State Key Laboratory of Precision Spectroscopy, and Hainan Institute, East China Normal UniversityState Key Laboratory of Precision Spectroscopy, and Hainan Institute, East China Normal UniversityState Key Laboratory of Precision Spectroscopy, and Hainan Institute, East China Normal UniversityState Key Laboratory of Precision Spectroscopy, and Hainan Institute, East China Normal UniversityState Key Laboratory of Precision Spectroscopy, and Hainan Institute, East China Normal UniversityAbstract Dual-comb spectroscopy (DCS) is a powerful technique for spectroscopic sensing, offering exceptional spectral bandwidth, resolution, precision, and speed. However, its performance is fundamentally limited by quantum noise inherent to coherent-state optical combs. Here, we overcome this barrier by introducing quantum correlation-enhanced DCS using correlated twin combs generated via seeded four-wave mixing. One comb acts as a local oscillator to decode molecular signals, while the twin suppresses shot noise through intensity-difference squeezing, achieving a 2 dB signal-to-noise ratio improvement beyond the shot-noise limit—equivalent to a 2.6× measurement speed enhancement. Notably, when coupled with up-conversion spectroscopy, our technique records comb-line-resolved, high-resolution (7.5 pm) spectra in the critical 3 μm region for molecular fingerprinting. These results bridge quantum optics and frequency comb spectroscopy, offering great potential for trace gas detection, precision metrology, and chemical analysis. Future developments in detector efficiency and nanophotonic integration could further enhance its scalability and impact.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41377-025-01891-1
spellingShingle Zhuoren Wan
Yuan Chen
Xiuxiu Zhang
Ming Yan
Heping Zeng
Quantum correlation-enhanced dual-comb spectroscopy
Light: Science & Applications
title Quantum correlation-enhanced dual-comb spectroscopy
title_full Quantum correlation-enhanced dual-comb spectroscopy
title_fullStr Quantum correlation-enhanced dual-comb spectroscopy
title_full_unstemmed Quantum correlation-enhanced dual-comb spectroscopy
title_short Quantum correlation-enhanced dual-comb spectroscopy
title_sort quantum correlation enhanced dual comb spectroscopy
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41377-025-01891-1
work_keys_str_mv AT zhuorenwan quantumcorrelationenhanceddualcombspectroscopy
AT yuanchen quantumcorrelationenhanceddualcombspectroscopy
AT xiuxiuzhang quantumcorrelationenhanceddualcombspectroscopy
AT mingyan quantumcorrelationenhanceddualcombspectroscopy
AT hepingzeng quantumcorrelationenhanceddualcombspectroscopy