Abstract: A laser cooling system has a coolant formulated to act as a heat exchanger and a transparent optical medium of matching refractive index between the flashlamp, silver reflectors and laser rod. The coolant has one or more fluorescent dyes and an inorganic pH buffering additive therein and the lamp is in a cerium doped envelope. A method is provided for measuring the operation time of a laser having a cooling system and a coolant having fluorescent dyes therein and actuating a solenoid valve after a predetermined operational life of the laser to release a dye additive into the coolant to maintain the efficiency of the laser.