Narrow-bandwidth, mid-infrared, seeded optical parametric generation in 90° phase-matched CdSiP₂ crystal pumped by diffraction limited 500 ps pulses at 1064 nm

Low-threshold, efficient optical parametric generation at ～6100 nm is demonstrated using CdSiP₂ nonlinear crystal at 1 to 10?kHz repetition rates with relatively long 500?ps pump pulses at 1064?nm. Maximum single pulse energy of 8.7?μJ and average power of 79?mW are achieved for the idler. Seeding at the signal wavelength is employed using a distributed feedback laser diode, which enables approximately tenfold narrowing of the idler bandwidth down to less than 1?nm.