We report an optical parametric amplifier (OPA), providing a maximum pulse energy of similar to 200 mu J at 700-950 nm and a pulse duration of similar to 1 ps. The OPA is driven by a similar to 1 ps pulse with similar to 2.5 mJ energy at 1 kHz, provided by a commercial thin-disk based laser. Using the output pulse of the OPA as pump, the thin-disk laser pulses at 1030 nm as Stokes, and the second harmonic (515 nm) as probe, we investigate the coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) of N-2 and CO2 at various temperatures. (C) 2022 Optica Publishing Group under the terms of the Optica Open Access Publishing Agreement