The task of the Solid State Lasers and Nonlinear Optics department is the development and adaptation of laser radiation sources for application in aerospace as well as security and defence applications. Some of these applications require sources of the highest power and beam quality – for example for energy transmission via laser ("power beaming") or the interception of mortar grenades and missiles. For other areas of application, laser sources are required which combine wavelength selectability with a high frequency stability, for e.g. remote detection of harmful and hazardous substances, for atmospheric research or for optical communication.