Abstract
This chapter describes rare earth lasers. Rare earths have been employed extensively for lasers. Stimulated emission has been observed from three divalent and n in trivalent lanthanide ions; in hosts including crystalline and amorphous solids. Rare earths have found their widest application in optically-pumped solid-state lasers. Of the different transition metal ion groups that fluoresce in solids and are thereby candidates for stimulated emission, the rare earths predominate. The wide applicability and versatility of rare earths for lasers arise from several attractive spectroscopic properties. Rare-earth lasers provide pulsed or continuous monochromatic radiation of high intensity, coherence, and directionality. Their many and varied applications include laboratory use and research, materials processing, communications, and military. The chapter reviews the fundamental physics of lasers, the energy levels, radiative and nonradiative transitions, and sensitization of rare earth ions, and the relationship of these properties to achieving stimulated emission.
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