Abstract: Light energy is efficiently coupled into a laser rod in a direction parallel to a resonating mode of the rod through optical fibers. Individual optical fibers having a refractive index lower than the refractive index of the laser rod are placed side by side around a barrel portion of a laser rod, parallel to the direction of the resonating mode, with the core portions of the optical fibers exposed by stripping the cladding. Since the law of total internal reflection for the light in the fibers is violated when the light encounters the higher refractive index of the laser rod, the exposed cores contacting the laser rod couple light energy injected into ends of the fibers to the laser rod. A reflector at end of the fibers opposite the light injection allows uncoupled light energy to be coupled into the laser rod on a second pass.