Aimed at researchers and graduate students, this book provides up-to-date information about the electronic interactions that impact the optical properties of rare earth ions in solids. Its goal is to establish a connection between fundamental principles and the materials properties of rare-earth activated luminescent and laser optical materials. The theoretical survey and introduction to spectroscopic properties covers electronic energy level structure, intensities of optical transitions, ion-phonon interactions, line broadening, and energy transfer and up-conversion. An important aspect of the book lies in its deep and detailed discussions of materials properties and the potential of new applications such as optical storage, information processing, nanophotonics, and molecular probes that have been identified in recent experimental studies. This volume will be a valuable reference book on advanced topics of rare earth spectroscopy and materials science.

Electronic Energy Level Structure.- Transition Intensities.- Ion-phonon Interactions.- Line Broadening Mechanisms and Their Measurement.- Up-conversions in RE-doped Solids.- Current Topics in Rare-earth Lasers.- Rare Earth Materiais in Optical Storage and Data Processing Applications.- Rare Earth Doped Confined Structures for Lasers and Amplifiers.- Rare Earth Luminescent Centers in Organic and Biochemical Compounds.- Rare Earth Ions in Advanced X-ray Imaging Materials.