Solid-state laser and luminescent materials activated by rare-earth or transition metals ions are widely used for solid-state lasers, luminescent lamps, flat displays, optical fibre communication systems, and other photonic devices. The unique solid-state electronic properties enable the activators in solids to emit photons efficiently in visible and IR regions. The rapid advances in both materials science and optoelectronics, particularly, the development of new methods of material synthesis and device fabrication, have been stimulating the growing interests in the deep insights of spectroscopic properties of solid-state laser and luminescent materials. This book brings together essential and practical knowledge of spectroscopic physics. This includes, atomic spectroscopy, mathematical theory, rare earth ions in materials, light emission and absorption, spectral properties, non-radiative transitions and energy migration.

This book presents an account of the course "Spectroscopy of Solid-State Laser-Type Materials" held in Erice, Italy, from June 16 to 30, 1985. This meeting was organized by the International School of Atomic and Molecular Spectroscopy of the "Ettore Majorana" Centre for Scientific Culture. The objective of the course was to present and examine the recent advances in spectroscopy and theoretical modelling relevant to the interpretation of luminescence and laser phenomena in several classes of solid-state materials. The available solid-state matrices (e.g. halides, oxides, glasses, semiconductors) and the full range of possible activators (transition ions, rare earth ions, post-transition ions, actinides, color centres) were considered. By bringing together specialists in the fields of solid-state luminescence and of solid-state laser materials, this course provided a much-needed forum for the critical . assessment of past developments in the R&D of solid-state lasers. Additional objectives of the meeting were to identify new classes of host/activator systems that show promise of laser operation; to alert researchers in solid-state luminescence to current technological needs for solid-state tunable lasers operating in the visible and infrared spectral regions; and generally to provide the scientific background for advanced work in solid state lasers. A total of 71 participants came from 54 laboratories and 21 nations (Austria, Belgium, Canada, F.R. of Germany, France, Greece, Ireland, Israel, Italy, the Netherlands, P.R. of China, Poland, Rumania, Sweden, Switzerland, South Korea, Spain, Turkey, United Kingdom, U.S.A. and U.S.S.R.).

The book is devoted to three types of laser-based spectroscopy of minerals, namely Laser-Induced Time-Resolved Luminescence, Laser-Induced Breakdown spectroscopy and Gated Raman Spectroscopy. This new edition presents the main new data, which have been received after the publication of the first edition ten years ago both by the authors and by other researchers. During this time, only the authors published more than 50 original papers devoted to laser-based spectroscopy of minerals. A lot of new data have been accumulated, both in fundamental and applied aspects, which are presented in new edition.

This book discusses the spectral properties of solid-state laser materials, including emission and absorption of light, the law of radiative and nonradiative transitions, the selection rule for optical transitions, and different calculation methods of the spectral parameters. The book includes a systematic presentation of the authors' own research works in this field, specifically addressing the stimulated nonradiative transition theory and the apparent crystal field model. This volume is helpful resource for researchers and graduate students in the fields of solid spectroscopy and solid-state laser material physics, while also serving as a valuable reference guide for instructors and advanced students of physics.

Historically, black body radiation in the tungsten filament lamp was our primary industrial means for producing 'artificial' light, as it replaced gas lamps. Solid state luminescent devices for applications ranging from lamps to displays have proliferated since then, particularly owing to the develop ment of semiconductors and phosphors. Our lighting products are now mostly phosphor based and this 'cold light' is replacing an increasing fraction of tungsten filament lamps. Even light emitting diodes now chal lenge such lamps for automotive brake lights. In the area of information displays, cathode ray tube phosphors have proved themselves to be outstandingly efficient light emitters with excellent colour capability. The current push for flat panel displays is quite intense, and much confusion exists as to where development and commercialization will occur most rapidly, but with the need for colour, it is now apparent that solid state luminescence will play a primary role, as gas phase plasma displays do not conveniently permit colour at the high resolution needed today. The long term challenge to develop electroluminescent displays continues, and high performance fluorescent lamps currently illuminate liquid crystal monochrome and colour displays. The development of tri component rare earth phosphors is of particular importance.

Everyone starting work in this field is faced with the lack of basic books. Here, two renowned researchers introduce the reader to luminescence and its applications, describing the principles of the luminescence processes in a clear way and dealing not only with physics, but also with the chemistry of systems. Particular attention is paid to materials such as lamp phosphors, cathode-ray and X-ray phosphors, scintillators and many other applications.

Electro-optic devices based on doped wide-band materials are present in industrial uses, in military applications and in everyday life. Whether one engages in laser surgery with a neodymium-Y AG laser or one communicates overseas using optical fibers, the development of these materials is both scientifically and commercially of great interest. Much of the most innovative work has been done in the last 15 years in this area. A minor revolution in optical fiber communications has occurred with the development of erbium-doped fiber amplifiers. Solid-state laser development shifted into high-gear with the theoretical and experimental study of doubly-doped garnet lasers. Recent developments on semiconductor laser arrays are making diode pumped solid-state lasers commercially feasible. The purpose of this book is to detail these developments and to point out that many of the same underlying physical processes control advances in several diverse applications. For example, the basic science of energy transfer will be discussed by Zharikov et al. and Rotman for energy transfer and dopant-defect interactions, respectively; it will also be crucial in understanding cerium-doped scintilla tors, neodymium-chromium lasers, and up-conversion fiber lasers. As another example, phonon-induced non-radiative relaxation will appear in every chapter in this book.