Systems and methods for thermal management of diode-pumped solid-state lasers

A method of maintaining a solid-state laser at a predetermined temperature, wherein the solid-state laser includes a laser gain medium and at least one pumping diode, said method comprising:

• operating the solid-state laser such that the solid-state laser generates heat;
• placing a coolant in thermal communication with the solid-state laser;
• heating the coolant with the heat generated by the solid-state laser and thereafter carrying the heat away from the solid-state laser;
• and
• rejecting the heat carried away by the coolant to a fluid at an ambient temperature.

A thermal management system for maintaining an operating solid-state laser to at least one predetermined temperature, wherein the solid-state laser includes a laser gain medium and at least one pumping diode, said system comprising:

• a reservoir capable of storing a coolant;
• at least one pump capable of pumping the coolant from the reservoir into thermal communication with the solid-state laser such that the coolant can carry heat away from the solid-state laser;
• and
• an evaporator capable of vaporizing at least a portion of the coolant to thereby reject the heat carried away by the coolant.