ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on the applications of rare earth materials for radio frequency and electro-optical (EO) devices and systems. It describes the most important EO systems and devices using rare earth elements, compounds, and optical crystals. Scientific research studies reveal that trivalent rare earth materials that are known as dopants, such as thulium, erbium, or holmium play critical roles in the design and development of EO devices and systems. The laser systems using the rare earth material nonlinear crystals described can be classified as CW or as pulse wave laser systems. In general, the application of rare earth materials is strictly dependent on the availability and cost of the material. The chapter summarizes the costs of the rare earth materials that are available in abundance. Samarium is the principal rare earth material oxide and is widely used in the production of Samarium Cobalt permanent magnets.
