Near‐ and far‐field patterns of narrow (⩽10 &mgr;m) stripe‐geometry lasers are reported which differ significantly from the Gaussian patterns predicted and observed in wider‐stripe lasers. The field patterns are explained by using a waveguide model which takes into account the finite extent of the stripe. High‐output‐power operation in a single fundamental transverse and lateral mode (up to 1 W in 25‐ns pulses) has been observed in devices of this type.