LENGTHENING THE PATH OF A LASER BEAM IN A MONOLOTHIC SOLID STATE LASER APPARATUS

A solid state laser device is provided. The active element has a double slope portion defining a right angle between the slopes, wherein the pump light beam is directed into one of the slopes, and wherein an output coupler configured to output a laser beam from the active element is located on a portion of the active element, opposite of the double slope portion, the double slope portion is configured such that the laser beam travels at least twice along the long axis of the active element; and a second double slopes portion located at the edge opposite of the first double sloped portion, wherein the second double slopes portion is perpendicular to the first double slopes portion, and wherein the second double slopes 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.