Molecular Spectroscopy in Hollow-Core Photonic Crystal Fiber at the 10 kHz Level

High-accuracy spectroscopy in hollow-core photonic crystal fiber (HC-PCF) is desirable for many applications, including frequency references and trace gas analysis. We demonstrate the narrowest sub-Doppler linewidths attained in HC-PCF using large-core kagome structured fiber. Such fibers can yield highly accurate frequency measurements that are about two orders of magnitude higher than previously reported. A fiber laser is locked to the $^{12}$C$_{2}$H$_{2} \quad \nu _{1}+\nu _{3}$ P(13) transition inside kagome fiber, and compared with two optical frequency combs referenced to a GPS-disciplined Rb oscillator. The absolute frequency of the measured line center agrees with those measured in power build-up cavities to within 9.3 kHz (1 $\sigma $ error). Approaches to further narrow the linewidths and improve systematic errors are investigated. The present system thus combines accuracy approaching that of power build-up cavities with the potential to be compact, robust, and integrated into an all-fiber system for a portable near-infrared frequency reference. Supported by AFOSR FA9950-05-1-0304 and NSF ECS-0449295.