Mid-infrared virtually imaged phased array spectrometer for rapid and broadband trace gas detection

We present and characterize a two-dimensional (2D) imaging spectrometer based on a virtually imaged phased array (VIPA) disperser for rapid, high-resolution molecular detection using mid-infrared (MIR) frequency combs at 3.1 and 3.8?μm. We demonstrate detection of CH₄ at 3.1?μm with >3750 resolution elements spanning >80 nm with ～600 MHz resolution in a <10 μs acquisition time. In addition to broadband detection, we also demonstrate rapid, time-resolved single-image detection by capturing dynamic concentration changes of CH₄ at a rate of ～375 frames per second. Changes in absorption above the noise floor of 5×10^-4 are readily detected on the millisecond time scale, leading to important future applications such as real-time monitoring of trace gas concentrations and detection of reactive intermediates.