NTitanium-doped sapphire (Ti:sapphire) crystals combine supreme physical and optical properties with broadest lasing range. It's indefinitely long stability and useful lifetime added to the lasing over entire band of 660-1050 nm challenge "dirty" dyes in variety of applications. Medical laser systems, lidars, laser spectroscopy, direct femtosecond pulse generation by Kerr-type mode-locking - there are few of existing and potential applications.
The absorption band of Ti:Sapphire centered at 490 nm makes it suitable for variety of laser pump sources - argon ion, frequency doubled Nd:YAG and YLF, copper vapour lasers. Because of 3.2 ¦Ìs fluorescence lifetime Ti:Sapphire crystals can be effectively pumped by short pulse flashlamps in powerful laser systems.