Optically pumped vertical external-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VECSELs), also called semiconductor disk lasers (SDLs), benefit from the flexibility and versatility of the semiconductor material. With a simple cavity layout, fundamental transverse mode operation with a circular output beam and high beam quality is possible. They have excellent heat-sink properties and only require inexpensive multimode diode lasers for pumping. The complete VECSEL structure is only a few micrometers thick which leads to a strong ...