<p>Er₂O₃ and ruby selective and continuous emission spectra in visible and near-IR ranges were experimentally investigated with laser-thermal excitation by continuous and pulsed radiation of electric discharge CO₂ lasers at λ = 10.6 μm. Selective spectra were emitted by Er³⁺ and Cr³⁺ ions. Continuous radiation was a thermodynamically equilibrium electromagnetic field in the crystalline lattice with its own temperature. The effect of the delay of emission intensity fronts and maxima in the oxides with respect to the laser pulses was explained by different kinetics of the layer heating and continuous radiation.</p>