Laser diode based systems, subsystems and methods with temperature control

A diode-pumped solid-state laser (DPSSL) system comprising:

• (i) a laser diode (LD) assembly comprising an LD stack comprising an LD bar, the LD bar comprising an LD emitter, wherein the LD stack comprises spacers at opposed sides of the LD bar, wherein the LD bar has an emission wavelength (WL) when operated at a desired operation temperature Td;
• (ii) a solid-state (SS) gain medium;
• and
• (iii) a thermal unit (TU) configured to control temperature of the LD assembly, wherein the TU is in thermal contact with the LD assembly, forming a contact surface area S1 between the TU and the LD assembly;
• (iv) a measuring device configured to detect an updated temperature-related parameter value of the LD assembly, the detected updated temperature-related parameter value being associated with an updated ambient temperature Ta in an area of the LD assembly,
• wherein the desired operation temperature Td of the LD assembly corresponds to absorption properties of the gain medium, and
• (v) a main controller operatively associated with the TU and with the measuring device, for controlling operation of the TU, based on the detected updated temperature-related parameter value Ta and the at least one desired operation temperature, and
• wherein a size of the contact surface area S1 is smaller than or equal to a size of an overall TU contact surface area S2 facing the LD assembly, and wherein a ratio S1:S2 is greater than or equal to 0.25, thereby increasing temperature-control speed by reducing time of adjusting the temperature of the LD assembly from an updated ambient temperature Ta to a desired operation temperature Td.