Abstract: To get higher laser output,the temperature distribution of a pulsed 2kJ high energy Nd:glass solid-state laser was numerically studied by means of finite difference under two thermal management methods,i.e.,the traditional method with a fixed cooling water temperature,and the novel method with an altering water temperature.It is shown that the temperature gradient in the laser rod can be limited to a low level and higher energy could be outputted if the novel thermal management method employed.