Spectrometry with frequency combs

A method is proposed for performing accurate spectral characterization of samples with frequency combs, e.g., from mode-locked lasers, over the spectral range covered by the combs. The essence of the method is the use of two combs of slightly different mode spacing to achieve spectral resolution. The advantages of the method are speed, frequency resolution, sensitivity, absence of dispersive components, and high spatial resolution. (C) 2002 Optical Society of America.