Current advances in the study of luminescent materials are driven by a number of factors: the emergence of new materials (nanostructures), more elaborate theoretical models (with increased computational power), more sophisticated experimental equipment and techniques, and the environmentally driven need for high-quality, more efficient products (lighting).

This book on luminescent materials and processes will be of interest to experimenatalists and theorists. It covers solid-state systems doped with optically active ions. These systems are finding applications in lasers, scintillators, luminophores and opto-electronics. They also provide a rich array of problems involving the interaction of radiation with matter.