Focus issue introduction: Advanced Solid-State Lasers (ASSL) 2016

The editors introduce the focus issue on “Advanced Solid-State Lasers (ASSL) 2016”, which is based on the topics presented at a conference of the same name held in Boston, USA, from October 30 to November 3, 2016. This focus issue, jointly prepared by Optics Express and Optical Materials Express, includes 20 contributed papers (14 for Optics Express and 6 for Optical Materials Express) selected from the voluntary submissions from attendees who presented at the conference and have extended their work into complete research articles. We hope this focus issue provides a useful link to the variety of topical discussions held at the conference and will contribute to the further expansion of the associated research areas.