A solid state pump cavity comprising a laser rod encased by diffusion
bonding inside an outer cladding. The outer cladding provides the ability
to efficiently conduct heat away from the laser rod. The outer cladding
is also configured to absorb spontaneous laser radiation that would
otherwise be re-amplified by the laser rod. Diffusion bonding of the
outer cladding to the laser rod forms a seamless optical boundary between
the outer cladding and the laser rod. An alternative embodiment of the
pump cavity comprises multiple segments of laser rod and outer cladding
assemblies coupled together with undoped sections that are diffusion
bonded to the ends of the laser rod and outer cladding assemblies.