Gain structuration in dual-wavelength Nd:YSAG ceramic lasers.

We demonstrate a dual-wavelength Nd:YSAG ceramic laser in which the gain volume is structurated into two different regions providing gain at the wavelength of 1061 nm and 1064 nm respectively. We discuss the role of the nonuniform distribution of the temperature in structurating the gain region via the Boltzmann effect. We show that the two laser wavelengths can be switched by adjusting the size of the pump beam or by slightly modifying the geometrical parameters of the laser cavity, either the length of the cavity or the orientation of a mirror. Additionally, we demonstrate that the transverse modes at the two wavelengths are shaped according to the effect of gain filtering caused by the structuration of the gain region.