Diode-pumped acousto-optic Q-switched pulse laser at 1.5-1.6 μm is obtained in an Er^3＋：Yb^3＋：LuAl3（BO3）4 crystal. Single-pulse laser operation with slope efficiency of 14% and threshold of approximately 100 mW is realized at an average absorbed pump power of 314 mW and repetition frequency of 20 kHz. Output pulse energy is 67 μJ. The effects of pulse repetition frequency, absorbed pump power, and duty cycle on the wavelength and pulse profile of the Q-switched Er^3＋：Yb^3＋：LuAl3（BO3）4 laser are also investigated.
Eye-safe 1.5～1.6 μm lasers have important applications in optical fiber communication, medicine, laser-range-finding, lidar, etc. Er^3＋ and Yb^3＋ co-doped crystal pumped by diode laser around 976 nm is an attractive method for obtaining 1.5～1.6 μm laser in compact device with high output beam quality. In this paper, the recent research and progress of several important Er^3＋ and Yb^3＋ co-doped laser crystals at 1.5～1.6 μm in authors’ lab are reported.
