Radio frequency spectrum analyzer based on spectral hole burning

Summary form only given. We report on the first experimental demonstration of a broad bandwidth radio frequency spectrum analyzer based on the engraving of multiple monochromatic gratings in a spectral hole burning (SHB) material. This device is considered for applications in RADAR and sub-millimeter wave astronomy. A set of monochromatic gratings is engraved in a SHB material. Each grating diffracts a single spectral component, with a resolution ultimately determined by the homogeneous line width of the SHB medium. A large number of gratings can coexist within the inhomogeneous width of the absorption line. By varying the engraving laser frequency in synchronism with the angle of incidence, one associates a specific diffraction angle with each specific spectral component. Therefore, the different spectral components of an incident polychromatic probe beam are diffracted and simultaneously retrieved in different directions. The grating set works as a spectrometer that is expected to exhibit MHz resolution and of GHz bandwidth.