[en] Considerable interest in compact pulsed high-peak power lasers sources emitting at wavelengths near 1,55 μm is observed. Rangefinders and other applications with free space propagation could be strong benefit of such devices. The wavelength of about 1.55 μm is in the eye safe regime where significantly higher pulse energies can be used without damage of human eyes. Erbium and ytterbium doped YAG single crystals were obtained by the Czochralski method. Fundamental conditions of growth of the obtained crystals and the results of optical homogeneity measurements are presented. Absorption spectra of Er³⁺ and Yb³⁺ - doped YAG crystals were measured in a spectral range 190-5000 nm at room temperature. Excitation and luminescence spectra were also recorded at room temperature with a JOBIN_YVON spectrofluorometer using a diode laser (POLAROID 4300, 970 nm, 1 W) as an excitation source. Measurements of lifetime of Er³⁺ ions in the upper laser level ⁴I_13/2) of the samples were made by a direct method with pulse excitation. (author)