A solid state laser rod of an anisotropic material is more efficiently side pumped by using cylindrical lenses and a half-wave plate with linear laser diode arrays disposed along the length of the solid state laser rod such that the polarization of the diode array light is rotated to achieve a maximum absorption coefficient in the laser rod material. In addition, Fresnel reflection losses at the lens and laser rod surfaces are reduced by a 90.degree. polarization rotation.