Laser Materials

This work focuses mainly on the spectroscopy and physics of laser materials, laser crystals and laser glasses. The spectroscopic and laser properties of rare earth and transition metal ions doped solid state materials have been systematically described based on modern quantum optics. The aim of the book is to relate laser and spectroscopic properties to the structure and chemical composition of materials. It emphasizes the nonlinear optical effects in laser materials, which are widely used in high power laser systems. The development of advanced solid state laser devices greatly depends on new laser materials. Much progress has been made recently in the development of new laser materials, which is summarized in this book.