AbstractIn this paper the relationships between the crystal structure, chemical composition and electronic structure of laser materials, and their optical properties are discussed. A brief description is given of the different laser activators and of the influence of the matrix on laser characteristics in terms of crystal field strength, symmetry, covalency and phonon frequencies. The last part of the paper lays emphasis on the means to optimize the matrix-activator properties such as control of the oxidation state and site occupancy of the activator and influence of its concentration.