Subnanosecond, 1 kHz, temperature-tuned, noncritical mid-infrared optical parametric oscillator based on CdSiP_2 crystal pumped at 1064 nm

Operation of an optical parametric oscillator based on CdSiP(2) and pumped at 1064 nm is demonstrated at a repetition rate of 1 kHz. The maximum output idler energy of 24 microJ at 6.125 microm corresponds to an average power of 24 mW. Increasing the crystal temperature up to 150 degrees in the noncritical (90 degrees) configuration leads to idler wavelength tuning from 6.117 to 6.554 microm. Subnanosecond pulse durations are obtained for the signal and idler as a result of the 1 ns pulse duration of the pump, made possible by the rather short crystal and cavity lengths (approximately 1 cm).