5. Conclusion

In this article, we have shown that solid-state laser sources in the UV-visible range can be realized using a variety of materials and concepts. In the UV and VUV range, it is clear that the main limitation comes from the materials, mainly their transparency and chemical and photochemical stability. Apart from Ce ³⁺ -doped crystals, which can access radiation down to around 280 nm, no material or laser system emits directly in the UV range without using a nonlinear frequency-converter crystal. However, only nonlinear crystals such as CLBO or certain fluorides currently under study can provide access to VUV wavelengths that could one day supplant excimer lasers. Beyond around 280 nm and throughout the visible range, numerous possibilities already exist. They also depend on the specific characteristics of certain materials, but above all on the...