A thermal management apparatus and method for a solid-state laser system enabling the laser system to have near isothermal temperatures across and throughout a solid-state gain material, by mechanically controlling an oscillating heat pipe having effective thermal conductivity of 10-20,000 W/m*K; bonding a solid-state lasing crystal or ceramic to the mechanically controlled oscillating heat pipe; and providing a supporting structure including a surface bonded to the solid-state lasing crystal or ceramic that matches the coefficient of thermal expansion of both the solid-state lasing crystal or ceramic and the mechanically controlled oscillating heat pipe.