Neodymium ionization energy

The ionization energy, in electron-volts, of the first electron of atoms from hydrogen, atomic number 1, to neodymium, atomic number 60. Symbols of the elements with very high and low ionization energy are shown in the figure. 

For all their usefulness, gas lasers are very inefficient lasers, with normally much less than 0.1 per cent conversion of electrical energy into laser light. A very widely used solid-state laser material is Nd YAG (and various similar doping/host material combinations). The abbreviation Nd YAG stands for neodymium atoms (Nd) being implanted in an yttrium aluminium garnet crystal host (Y3AI5O12). These implants, in the form of triply ionized neodymium Nd, form the actual active laser medium. 

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