TABLE OF CONTENTS In the solid-state lasers on ions in the dielectrics (crystals and glasses) the matrix of the dielectrics plays a significant role in the lasing processes; it is therefore necessary to ensure that the active impurity ions are added uniformly to the matrix in a sufficiently high concentration, without disrupting its optical and mechanical properties.
The matrix should be optically homogeneous and transparent in the spectral range of pumping and lasing radiation and should have high heat conductivity, heat resistance, mechanical and optical stability. In addition, the matrix should satisfy the technological requirements on optical treatment. At present, there are hundreds of solid-state matrixes of active media used for lasing. In most cases, activators in the solid-state lasers are represented by the ions of elements of transition groups. The atoms of these groups are characterised by the presence of internal partially filled electron shells. The transitions in which these non-filled shells take part also determine the spectral-luminescence properties of the active medium. The activators are implanted in the matrix and exist there in the form of ions.
In the widely used solid-state lasers on active media with trivalent ions of the iron transition group, these ions lose the screening shell and their spectra in different matrixes differ from the spectra of the free ions and depend on the forces of the crystal field of the matrix. The ions of other transition elements of the group of rare earths change only slightly their spectral-luminescence properties with changes of the solid-state matrix,...
