Laser apparatus

A laser apparatus includes a hollow cylindrical solid state laser medium and an optical resonator having reflective surfaces at each end of the laser medium in the axial direction of the laser medium for causing a light emitted into the laser medium to travel back and forth along the elongated axial direction of the laser medium. One of the reflective surfaces of the optical resonator is shaped to reflect the beam at an angle to the beam impinging thereagainst to thereby walk the beam tangentially around the hollow cylindrical solid state laser medium at a fixed radial distance from the elongated axis of the laser medium. An exit slot is formed in one of the reflective surfaces. A pumping means for exciting the laser medium includes at least one flashlamp positioned adjacent the laser medium along the laser medium axis through the hollow cylindrical portion of the laser.