Researchers at NIST have developed a new method for interrogating photonic thermometers using dual frequency combs, which could revolutionize temperature measurement by enabling faster, smaller, and more robust sensors. The dual-comb system allows for 10 to 1000 times faster interrogation compared to traditional methods, and could support multiple photonic sensors simultaneously, further reducing size and cost.
The new method works by combining light from two nearly identical frequency combs, creating a beat pattern that makes the characteristic dip in light amplitude from a specific temperature more noticeable. This allows researchers to measure temperature to within 0.01 K, sufficient for most industrial applications.
The team plans to test the system with multiple sensors in the coming months, bringing them closer to commercialization of this technology. Photonic thermometers have potential applications in fields requiring rapid temperature measurement, such as radiation therapy for cancer treatment.
Source: https://www.nist.gov/news-events/news/2023/08/detangling-light-based-thermometers-combs
Keywords: temperature, photonic, sensors, comb, wavelengths
