The most promising alternative to flashlamp pumping of high power solid-state laser driver for inertial confinement fusion reactor is the rapidly growing semiconductor laser (also called laser diode). It has inherently high efficiency, long lifetime (over three years at 10 Hz) and small thermal load to the laser material. The latter will enable an increase in pulse repetition frequency. It is shown that for laser fusion reactor driver a LD pumped MJ 0.35 p m regenerative solid-state laser with an overall efficiency of 10 % can be designed. It may be capable to operate at 4 Hz and 10 Hz with the laser material of Nd : glass and Nd SiO2 (or Nd : YAG), respectively.
