Dispersion-compensated laser using prismatic end elements

A method for compensating for group velocity dispersion of a laser beam generated in a resonant cavity defined by a set of reflective end elements positioned to together form a closed optical path, a gain medium positioned along the closed optical path, a means for exciting the gain medium to produce the laser beam within the cavity, and at least one focusing element, the focusing element being positioned within the resonant cavity in optical alignment with the gain medium to shape a spatial mode for each wavelength in the laser beam that is supported by the laser, the method comprising the step of:

• passing the laser beam generated within the resonant cavity through a prism positioned as at least one of the end elements of the cavity and providing angular dispersion of the laser beam, each of the at least one prisms having two surfaces at an angle with respect to each other, at least one of the two prism surfaces being coated with a reflective coating, all of the resonant cavity elements being positioned with respect to each other such that the resonant cavity supports a coexistence of a plurality of laser modes that each have a distinct propagation axis, such that propagation axes of modes having relatively longer wavelengths traverse more of the prism than propagation axes of modes having relatively shorter wavelengths, thereby resulting in addition of a negative component to the resonant cavity group velocity dispersion to compensate for group velocity dispersion of the laser beam.