The first step to getting output from a laser is to excite an active medium. What is this process called?

Pumping is the process of adding energy to the active medium in a laser to excite its atoms or molecules to higher energy states, creating the population inversion necessary for lasing. This energy input can be electrical, optical, or chemical depending on the laser type. The excited medium then releases this energy as coherent light through stimulated emission. 'Exciting', 'Priming', and 'Raising' are not the technical terms used in laser physics.