Abstract

Sapphire is a very promising host material for Ti³⁺ for tunable laser application. It is isostructural to Ti₂O₃ with a trigonal distorted octahedral lattice site for the dopant. The strong crystal field of Al₂O₃ yields in a wide level splitting, The band gap of about 10eV prevents reabsorption, excited state absorption or energy transfer effects. Similarly, Ti³⁺ has besides its splitted ²D free ion level no higher energy levels up to about 10eV.

© 1986 Optical Society of America