Abstract: Optical apparatus including a pump-guiding fiber (30) including a fiber cladding (31), a fiber core (32) and an attachment section (33), the attachment section (33) including a straight core section (34) and a tapered core section (35), the pump-guiding fiber (30) being optically attached at one end thereof to a pump source (29) and an opposite end of the pump-guiding fiber (30) being attached to an inner clad (42) of a receiving fiber (40) through an attachment section (50), the attachment section (50) including both the straight core section (34) and the tapered core section (35) of the pump-guiding fiber (30), characterized in that both the straight core section (34) and the tapered core section (35) of the pump-guiding fiber (30) are attached to the receiving fiber (40) with an intermediate sol-gel material (51).

Abstract: A diode-pumped solid state laser, e.g., in a side-pumped or end-pumped configuration, including a lasing medium (30, 40, 62) comprising at least one surface (41) through which the laser is pumped, and at least one diamond plate (32, 42, 64) in thermal contact with the at least one surface (41). In an embodiment a plurality of segments of said lasing medium (62) are disposed in proximity to each other, and said at least one diamond plate (64) is disposed between two adjacent segments, and in thermal contact with said elements.

Abstract: A diode-pumped solid state laser, e.g., in a side-pumped or end-pumped configuration, including a lasing medium (30, 40, 62) comprising at least one surface (41) through which the laser is pumped, and at least one diamond plate (32, 42, 64) in thermal contact with the at least one surface (41). In an embodiment a plurality of segments of said lasing medium (62) are disposed in proximity to each other, and said at least one diamond plate (64) is disposed between two adjacent segments, and in thermal contact with said elements.