在分析激光晶体研究现状的基础上，指出其未来应用及主要发展趋势：高功率、大能量激光晶体；中红外激光晶体；蓝绿紫和可见光激光晶体；LD抽运超快激光增益和放大介质晶体。以上四个方向中，高功率、大能量全固态激光晶体材料和LD抽运超快激光晶体材料又是覆盖其他方向、带有共性基础科学问题的关键方向。着重报道了LD抽运超快激光晶体材料的最新研究进展。

Recent developments and research status of laser crystals are reviewed. In the authors' points, the main developing trends and research frontier in this field should be focused on the following four directions, first, high-power and large-energy laser crystals; second, practical mid-infrared laser crystals; third, laser crystals emitting at UV and visible regions; fourth, ultrafast laser gain and amplifier media suitable for LD pumping. Some emphasis is placed on the fourth direction to report the recent developments.