A miniaturized
laser package is provided comprising a standard
semiconductor laser package modified to accept a
solid state microchip
assembly pumped by the
diode laser. Standard packages described in the invention include TO and HHL packages all of which are characterized by small dimensions, well sealed housing, robust mounting features, known characterized materials and economical production and
assembly techniques characteristic of the
semiconductor processing industry. In particular, the microchip lasers are produced using
high density techniques that lend themselves to
mass production, resulting in very low unit costs. At the same time, the compact laser devices provide a solution to the problem of providing laser
radiation at high beam quality and good reliability features with a variety of wavelengths and operational characteristics and
low noise features not available from
diode lasers yet relying primarily on standardized designs, materials and techniques common to
diode laser manufacturing. The devices constructed according to methods taught by the invention can therefore be readily integrated into numerous applications where power, reliability and performance are at a premium but low cost is essential, eventually replacing diode lasers in many existing systems but also enabling many new commercial, biomedical, scientific and
military systems.