Lengthening the path of a laser beam in a monolithic solid state laser

A solid state laser device is provided. The active element 110 has a double slope portion defining a right angle between the slopes 112, 114, wherein the pump light beam 120 is directed into one of the slopes 112, and wherein an output coupler 160 is configured to output a laser beam from the active element 110 and is located on a portion of the active element opposite to the double slope portion of 110. The double slope portion 112, 114 is configured such that the laser beam travels at least twice along the long axis of the active element. A second and also a third double slope portion 92, 97 may be located at the edge opposite of the first double sloped portion, wherein the second/third double slope portion are perpendicular to the first double slope portion, and wherein the second double slope portion is configured such that the laser beam travels back and forth along the long axis of the active element at least one more time.