Continuous-wave cryogenic optical absorption spectrometer for sub-THz frequencies

We present the design of a continuous-wave, highly sensitive optical spectrometer for millimeter-wave frequencies between 50 and 1000 GHz. The spectrometer uses photomixing of near-infrared light to generate radiation in a wide frequency range, and the absorbed optical power is determined directly through measurements of the sample temperature. This enables relative sensitivities of up to \(10^6\) for the sample absorption coefficient below liquid-helium temperatures, suitable for measurements on highly reflective samples. The instrument is also compatible with high magnetic fields. In order to validate its performance, we measure the ferromagnetic resonance in the Mott insulator YTiO\(_3\), the electron spin resonance in a standard free-radical reference compound, and the antiferromagnetic resonance in a van der Waals magnetic material.