Researchers at Lambda Physik Inc. in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., wanted to design a pulsed Nd:YAG laser system with a high-quality beam, enabling high-efficiency frequency conversion. Recently, they reached their goal, producing a diode-pumped, solid-state laser system emitting at 1064 nm with an average output power of 22 W and a repetition rate of 1 kHz. Because of the beam's narrow linewidth, the frequency conversion efficiency during second-harmonic generation was 60 percent and the average output power at 532 nm was 12 W. The combination of the high power and repetition rate generated a high pulse energy.