Some important rare earth ion applications
Optical properties of rare-earth ions

Neodymium's first laser effects were obtained in pulse mode and by optical pumping using xenon flash lamps. However, these light sources behave like black bodies at 10,000 K, emitting a continuum of light extending from the IR to the UV, suited to the fine-line absorptions of trivalent rare-earth ions. To improve excitation yields and get the most out of these flash lamps, researchers then used rare-earth-doped materials co-doped with other ions,...