What is a typical characteristic of solid-state lasers?

A typical characteristic of solid-state lasers is high outputs due to crystal doping. In solid-state lasers, a solid gain medium—often a crystal or glass—is doped with certain ions to create a material that can efficiently produce laser light when excited. This doping process increases the number of energy levels available for the transitions that generate laser light, thus allowing for higher output power and more efficient performance compared to other types of lasers, such as gas or dye lasers.

The unique structure of solid-state lasers allows for efficient energy storage and transfer within the crystal matrix, which is crucial for achieving high output levels. This is why solid-state lasers are often used in applications requiring powerful lasers, such as in industrial cutting and medical procedures. The properties of the dopants directly influence the wavelength and output of the laser, allowing for a wide range of potential applications across different wavelengths and powers.