Ti:Sapphire Description
Ti:Sapphire or titania‐doped sapphire crystal is a synthesised crystalline material. It contains small amounts of titanium ions (Ti4+) that substitute for aluminium ions (Al3+) in the sapphire (α‐Al2O3) crystal lattice.
The doping introduces additional energy levels in the crystal. Consequently, the crystal is able to absorb and emit light in the near infrared and visible ranges. Doping thereby extends the usable emission range of sapphire.
Ti:Sapphire crystals exhibit high transparency in the visible and near infrared ranges. They are employed as gain media in solid‐state lasers. These lasers generate ultra‐short pulses. The pulses are used in applications such as spectroscopy, biomedical imaging, micromachining and material processing.
Typically, the Ti:Sapphire crystal is pumped with a laser, for example a frequency‐doubled Nd:YAG laser. The pump excites the titanium ions. This excitation produces intense, short laser pulses in the visible and near infrared ranges when the crystal is integrated into an optical resonator.
Ti:Sapphire crystals provide measurable advantages including high gain, tunability from ultraviolet to near infrared wavelengths, high output power and consistent beam quality. For this reason, they are used in research laboratories and industry.
Ti:Sapphire Specifications
Orientation
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Optical axis C is perpendicular to the rod axis
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Ti2O3 Concentration
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0.06 - 0.2 weight-%
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Figure of Merit
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100~300 (>300 available on special request)
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Diameter
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2-50 mm
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Path Length
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2-100 mm
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End Configurations
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Flat/Flat or Brewster/Brewster ends
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Flatness
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<λ/10 @ 633 nm
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Parallelism
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<10 arcseconds
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Surface Quality
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<10/5 scratches/depth in accordance with MIL-O-13830A
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Wavefront Distortion
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<λ/4 per inch
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Notes:
1. To request or order a finished crystal, please specify the above specifications. For most applications, only the following details are required:
1) Nd doping concentration; 2) Size; 3) Surface quality; 4) Coating.
2. For special requests, please provide a detailed specification for assessment and fabrication.
Ti:Sapphire Applications
1. Laser Technology: Ti:Sapphire crystals are used as gain media in solid-state lasers. These lasers are applied in spectroscopy, metrology, material processing and biomedical research.
2. Time-resolved Spectroscopy: Ti:Sapphire crystals enable the generation of ultra-short pulses. The pulses are used to investigate ultrafast dynamics in materials and biological systems. Time-resolved spectroscopic techniques with Ti:Sapphire lasers are employed in chemistry, physics and biology.
3. Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT): OCT is a medical imaging technique that utilizes low-coherence light to acquire high-resolution cross-sectional images of biological tissue. Ti:Sapphire lasers provide the light source with high coherence and tunability. Consequently, they enable OCT imaging that meets the resolution requirements for medical and biological applications.
4. Pump-Probe Spectroscopy: The ultra-short pulses generated by Ti:Sapphire lasers serve as both pump and probe beams. Given that the pump pulse induces measurable changes, this technique is used to study ultrafast processes.