Crystallochemical aspect of laser materials production

Three aspects of designing and producing efficient laser materials are under consideration, namely, crystallochemical, spectroscopic and technological ones. Basic crystallochemical principles are suggested for proper choice of crystal matrix for further introduction of activators and sensitizers. The knowledge of congruently melting composition is shown to be great importance for production of high quality single crystals. Their structure should be formed of 'equilibrium' polyhedrons. The regions of such structure existence have been revealed on diagrams of Ln2O3-Sc2S3-M2O3 systems (Ln =Y, Gd: M = Ga, Al)