Congratulations to Lorenzo Gatto! Together with his colleagues, he has demonstrated an alternative rapid-scanning approach for field-resolved mid-infrared spectroscopy. The results were recently published in Optics Express. The method can record field-resolved mid-IR waveforms at an 8 kHz rate, using a resonant galvanometer scanner in a simple and compact delay line.
High-speed field-resolved mid-IR spectroscopy can obtain broad molecular fingerprints in less than a millisecond. This makes it attractive for applications such as particle or cell analysis in flow. Achieving these fast acquisition rates typically relies on rather complex systems that involve two synchronized laser oscillators or specialized scanning hardware. While the resonant scanner approach does not yet match the performance of more complex dual-oscillator systems, its advantages lie in its simplicity and versatility. Using a single laser oscillator and off-the-shelf optical components reduces technical complexity and provides high flexibility.
By offering a versatile and accessible option, the method complements existing rapid scanning techniques and supports the development of new applications based on field-resolved mid-IR spectroscopy. With further improvements and integration with automated microfluidic systems, this approach could facilitate high-throughput spectroscopic analysis and investigations of rapid biochemical processes.
Original publication:
rapid mechanical scanning at 8 kHz for in-flow mid-IR field-resolved spectroscopy
L. Gatto, W. Schweinberger, M. Huber, Y. Si, Z. Wei, S. Gröbmeyer, C. Liber, F. Fleischmann, I. Pupeza, A. Weigel & M. Žigman
Opt. Express 34, 30973 (2026)
Pictures: Nina Beier
