Laser rod pump chamber and method

The present invention relates to solid state lasers and the manufacture of same. More particularly, the present invention relates to mounting a laser rod tube into a pumping chamber of a solid state laser. A solid state laser, includes laser rod tubes () crimped onto each end of a laser rod () with PTFE seal rings () compressed between the laser rod and the laser rod tube. The compressed seal rings provide an improved leak tight seal in a laser pumping chamber. Each laser rod tube () provides a mounting and holding area () for supporting the laser rod ends therein while protecting and sealing the end faces of the laser rod. A swaging tool () and method for swaging the laser rod tube () onto the laser rod () to provide a compression fit are provided. The compression seal and swaging method are usable in a variety of leak tight sealing applications.