A laser apparatus includes an optic dispersion compensator. In another aspect, an optic (40, 45) uses phase wrapping to compress or stretch a laser pulse. A further aspect includes an apparatus and method for binary-phase compression of stretched laser pulses. In yet another aspect, a single monolithic transmissive or reflective optic (40, 45) provides compression or stretching of a laser pulse using a sinusoidal pattern for introducing binary steps. Another aspect provides a stretching or compressing optic (40, 45) for retarding a phase of multiple frequency regions of a laser pulse by a factor of 2? or less. Still another aspect employs a volume grating or multi-layer mirror including phase wrapping to obtain discontinuous phase jumps in a laser pulse compressor (45) or stretcher (40). Methods of using or making the laser apparatus are also provided.