Patent ID: 7787505

Claim:
A multi-longitudinal mode laser, comprising: an optical resonant cavity comprising first and second end reflectors provided in optical communication with each other, wherein said first and second end reflectors are spaced apart by a resonant cavity optical path having an optical path length selected so as to allow first and second longitudinal modes of laser electromagnetic radiation upon excitation of a gain medium provided in said resonant cavity optical path between said first and second end reflectors; and an intracavity reflector positioned in said resonant cavity such that said laser electromagnetic radiation is incident upon said intracavity reflector at a non-normal angle of incidence, said intracavity reflector providing a first reflection phase shift for said first longitudinal mode of laser electromagnetic radiation and providing a second reflection phase shift for said second longitudinal mode of laser electromagnetic radiation, wherein said first reflection phase shift is different than said second reflection phase shift, wherein said intracavity reflector provides a selected reflection phase difference between said first and second longitudinal modes of laser electromagnetic radiation, and wherein said selected reflection phase difference between said first and second longitudinal modes of laser electromagnetic radiation is selected from the range of about 0.1 degrees to about 20 degrees.