Excitation and recombination processes during electroluminescence of rare earth-activated materials

Electroluminescence phenomena in rare earth doped materials are reviewed. The main emphasis is in the basic physics of EL processes, viz. direct and indirect excitation and nonradiative and radiative recombination of rare earth ions. The device structures, the recent material development, and the present state of art in AC operated thin fdm EL devices have been reviewed as well.