Complete characterization of a broadband high-finesse cavity using an optical frequency comb

Abstract

We demonstrate a new method to simultaneously measure spectrally resolved dispersion and losses (finesse) of a passive optical cavity over the entire bandwidth of an optical frequency comb. To this end, we record and analyze the spectral Moiré pattern between the perfectly equidistant frequency comb emitted from a Ti:Sapphire laser and the longitudinal modes of the passive cavity as a function of the laser's carrier-envelope-offset phase slippage (ø)CE. In the group-delay dispersion measurement of additionally introduced optical elements we verify a 2fs(2) accuracy in a 2THz resolution bandwidth and find good agreement of the measured performance and the target design of a high reflectance dielectric mirror. The sensitivity of the method is essentially equivalent to a cavity ring down technique allowing us also to readily observe signatures of atmospheric gas species.