High-sensitivity time-resolved intracavity laser Fourier transform spectroscopy with vertical-cavity surface-emitting multiple-quantum-well lasers.

Spectra composed of hundreds of time components for absorption path lengths of up to 130 km have been recorded near 1050 nm by combination of two recent techniques, intracavity laser spectroscopy with vertical external cavity surface-emitting multiple-quantum-well lasers and time-resolved Fourier transform spectroscopy. A sensitivity of 1 x 10(-10) cm(-1) Hz(-1/2) is achieved for 10(4) simultaneously acquired spectral elements, 3 orders of magnitude better than the sensitivity obtained in previous similar experiments. Specific advantages of the method, especially for frequency and intensity metrology of weak absorption transitions, are discussed.