GAIN MEDIUM WITH IMPROVED THERMAL CHARACTERISTICS

A laser assembly (10) that generates a beam (20) includes a gain medium (12) having a first facet region (24) that includes a first facet (16), a second facet region (26) that includes a second facet (18), and an intermediate region (28) that separates and connects the facet regions (24) (26). Additionally, the gain medium (12) includes a substrate layer (30) and a core layer (34) that extend between the facets (16) (18). The gain medium (12) is designed so that when current is directed to the gain medium, (i) current flows through the core layer (34) in the intermediate region (28) to generate the beam (20), and (ii) current does not flow through or flows at a reduced rate through the core layer (34) in one or both facet regions (24) (26).