1. Physics and technology of photonic materials (laser active materials- single crystals, transparent polycrystalline ceramic materials activated with rare earth and transition metal ions, nonlinear materials, saturable absorbers, multifunctional materials):
- Crystal growth and production of transparent polycrystalline materials;
- Global (structural, mechanical, thermal, optical and so on) characterization of the  photonic materials;
- Spectroscopic characterization of the active centers in the laser materials: quantum states (energy levels, transition probabilities), static and dynamic interactions (crystal field effects, electron-phonon coupling), ion-ion interactions and energy transfer, emission dynamics and quantum efficiency, distribution.

2. Quantum electronics processes in doped laser materials:
- modeling and experimental investigation of laser emission and heat generation processes;
- new laser materials, pumping schemes and emission and processes;
- correlation structure-properties-functionality;
- principles of scaling of the solid-state lasers.

3. Physics of selected applications of the solid-state lasers.