Titanium-doped Sapphire (Ti:Sapphire) is the most widely used tunable and ultrafast laser crystal, forming the backbone of modern femtosecond and picosecond laser systems. Its exceptionally broad tuning range, high gain bandwidth, and capability for ultra-short pulse generation make it indispensable in scientific research, biomedical imaging, and advanced micromachining.
Key Properties of Ti:Sapphire
- Extremely Broad Tuning Range: Continuously tunable from approximately 660 nm to 1050 nm, covering a wide spectral region unmatched by most laser materials.
- Ultrashort Pulse Capability: Supports femtosecond pulse generation with extremely high peak power, ideal for time-resolved and nonlinear optical applications.
- Wide Pump Absorption Band: Efficiently pumped by argon-ion lasers and frequency-doubled Nd:YAG (532 nm) lasers.
- Excellent Thermal & Mechanical Properties: High thermal conductivity and mechanical hardness support high-power operation when properly cooled.
Typical Applications
- Ultrafast Spectroscopy: Time-resolved studies in chemistry, biology, and condensed-matter physics.
- Micromachining & Precision Processing: High-precision ablation with minimal heat-affected zones.
- Medical Imaging & Surgery: Multiphoton microscopy, ophthalmology, and non-invasive surgical procedures.
- Fundamental Physics Research: Quantum optics, atomic and molecular dynamics, and THz radiation generation.
Shape Optics Supply Capability
Ti₂O₃ Dopant Concentration
0.06% – 0.26% (atomic %)
Available Dimensions
Rod Diameter: 2 mm – 30 mm
Length: 2 mm – 30 mm
Coatings
AR, HR, or custom coatings available upon request
Crystal Growth Method
Temperature Gradient Technique (TGT), enabling large-size, high-quality crystals up to Ø30 × 30 mm, with low scattering, high gain, and high damage threshold.
Standard Optical & Mechanical Specifications
| Parameter | Specification |
|---|---|
| Dopant Concentration Tolerance | ±0.1% |
| Parallelism | < 10 arc seconds |
| Perpendicularity | < 5 arc minutes |
| Chamfer | 0.1 mm × 45° |
| Clear Aperture | ≥ 95% |
| Scratch & Dig | 40/20 or better |
| Surface Flatness | λ/10 @ 633 nm |
| Wavefront Distortion | λ/10 @ 633 nm |
| Damage Threshold | > 15 J/cm² (TEM₀₀, 10 ns, 10 Hz) |
Physical & Laser Properties
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Chemical Formula | Ti³⁺:Al₂O₃ |
| Crystal Structure | Hexagonal |
| Lattice Constants | a = 4.758 Å, c = 12.991 Å |
| Density | 3.98 g/cm³ |
| Melting Point | 2040 °C |
| Mohs Hardness | 9 |
| Thermal Expansion | 8.4 × 10⁻⁶ K⁻¹ |
| Thermal Conductivity | 52 W·m⁻¹·K⁻¹ |
| Specific Heat | 0.42 J·g⁻¹·K⁻¹ |
Optical & Laser Performance
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Laser Action | 4-level vibronic |
| Fluorescence Lifetime | 3.2 µs @ 300 K |
| Tuning Range | 660 – 1050 nm |
| Absorption Range | 400 – 600 nm |
| Absorption Peak | 488 nm |
| Emission Peak | 795 nm |
| Refractive Index | 1.76 @ 800 nm |
| Peak Emission Cross Section | 3.4 × 10⁻¹⁹ cm² |
Laser System Compatibility
Ti:Sapphire crystals are widely used in:
- Femtosecond and picosecond laser oscillators
- Regenerative and multipass amplifiers
- Tunable ultrafast laser systems
- Nonlinear optics and frequency conversion setups
Their broad gain bandwidth and high peak power capability make Ti:Sapphire the benchmark material for ultrafast photonics.