Energy transfer and non-linear optical properties at near ultraviolet wavelengths: Rare earth 4f yields 5d transitions in crystals and glasses

The following topics were studied: two-photon transitions from 4f ground state to 5d excited states in Ce{sup 3+}:CaF{sub 2}; optical absorption and photoionization measurements from excited state of Ce{sup 3+}:Y{sub 3}Al{sub 5}O{sub 12}; excited state photoionization of Ce{sup 3+} ions in Ce{sub 3+}:CaF{sub 2}; optical gain and loss studies in Ce{sup 3+}:LiYF{sub 4}; Gd {yields}Cr energy transfer in Cr{sup 3+}:GSGG, Cr{sup 3+}:GSAG and Cr{sup 3+}:GGG crystals; nonradiative relaxation in Ce{sup 3+} doped crystals and glasses; and grating formation in impurity doped crystals.