Abstract

Transition metal ions with the d¹ or d⁹ electronic configuration, such as Ti³⁺, V⁴⁺ and Cu²⁺, are of particular interest for tunable solid state lasers. In these ions, the existence of basically only one high-lying excited state determines the absence of internal transitions that could produce excited state absorption. Ti³⁺ in corundum is an example of a successful system. V⁴⁺ in the same host looks also very promising.¹

© 1987 Optical Society of America