The solid state laser comprises a laser gain medium (1), pumping means for pumping the laser gain medium, and a laser cavity having a first end (3) and a second end (17), wherein the laser gain medium is at, or in the vicinity of, said first end (3) of said cavity. A semiconductor saturable absorber mirror (SESAM) can be placed at the second end (17) of the cavity. The laser gain medium can comprise at least one face for receiving pumping energy from the pumping means, the face being made reflective at a laser frequency of the laser, so that it can form the first end of the laser cavity. The resulting setup used for generating femtosecond laser pulses.