A monolithic, side pumped, passively Q-switched, solid-state laser (10)
includes a laser resonator structure (16) that includes a laser gain
medium (12) having an output face bonded to a passive Q-switch (14). The
gain medium (12) has a side face (12A) for receiving pump light. The pump
light is preferably generated by a laser diode array (20). In a further
embodiment, a non-linear optical material (22), such as frequency
doubling KTP, is optically coupled to an output face of the Q-switch for
providing output wavelength conversion. A method is also disclosed for
fabricating the monolithic, side pumped, passively Q-switched,
solid-state laser. Techniques are included for providing compensation
from thermal aberrations during operation of the laser.