Multi-GHz Mid-IR Source Based on Continuous-Wave Parametric Amplification in a Femtosecond OPO

High repetition rate ultrafast coherent radiation in the mid-infrared (mid-IR) is of interest for a variety of applications, including sensing, spectroscopy, and medical diagnostics [1]. However, the development of high repetition rate ultrashort pulsed lasers, especially in the mid-IR, faces various technical challenges associated with short laser cavity length, thermal management, dispersion, non-linear effects, and mode-locking stability [2]. To overcome such technical challenges, here, we demonstrate an innovative method for generating high repetition rate mid-IR coherent radiation using a multi-gigahertz optical parametric oscillator (OPO) in the presence of intra-cavity continuous-wave (cw) laser-pumped optical parametric amplification (OPA).