A high-pressure compact xenon arc lamp with an ellipsoidal collector of 61-cm diameter and an opening of f/0.4 served as pumping source. The flux available from this source is concentrated into the 2 × 2 × 12 mm laser rods of neodymium-doped calcium tungstate by either a straight cone condenser or by a chiselshaped condenser. Both condenser designs are discussed. Continuous laser action has been achieved for periods up to more than one hour, using water cooling at room temperature.