A solid state Raman laser (10) includes a laser pump (20) for producing a first radiation (22) at a high power and at a first wavelength along an optical path, a solid Raman active medium (30) in the optical path of the first radiation, the medium including single crystal diamond (32) having a first surface (34) and a second surface (36), where the first radiation at a high power produces stimulated Raman scattering in the medium and the medium generates a second radiation (38) at a second wavelength, a first optical element (40) in the optical path of the first radiation, wherein the first optical element allows the first wavelength to be transmitted and allows the second wavelength to be reflected, and a second optical element (50) in the optical path of the first radiation, wherein the second optical element allows the first wavelength to be transmitted and allows the second wavelength to be reflected.