New high power monolithic surface emitting laser diodes (SELDs) are used for the optical pumping of an Nd : YAG slab. The optical SELD pulse characteristics are 6.8 mJ at 100 Hz, 808 nm emission at room temperature, 10 mm2 emitting surface. In the free-running mode, the laser delivers up to 550-mu-J energy per pulse. In the Q-switch mode, 2.9 kW peak power per pulse is achieved.