A laser includes a first optically reflective element; a second optically
reflective element opposed to and aligned with the first optically
reflective element to define a laser cavity having an optical axis; an
optical pump source for injecting optical pump energy into the laser
cavity along the optical axis; a solid-state dye gain element having a
thin host in which a dye is dissolved that is interposed between said
first and second optically reflective elements along the optical axis for
transforming the optical pump energy into a resonant optical signal; and a
cooling element in thermal contact with the solid-state dye gain element
for absorbing heat energy from the solid-state dye gain element to control
the temperature of the solid-state dye gain element.
