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.).
