Abstract: In a first embodiment, the invention makes use of a Neodymium doped YAG (Nd:YAG) gain medium placed in an optical resonant cavity formed by two mirrors. Power extraction is maximized for a specific laser cavity. In particular the concave curvature on the rod ends contributes a negative lensing component to modify the strength of the thermal lens. In a second embodiment the present invention uses an amplifier rod medium with curved ends to act as lensing elements to collect emission from the laser gain medium and/or oscillator described in the first embodiment of the invention. The combination of thermal lens and curved rod ends produces a lensing effect which allows light to be directly coupled from a laser. In addition, variation of the input pump power allows for control of the thermal lens formed within the amplifier rod.