All-normal dispersion fiber lasers mode-locked with a nonlinear amplifying loop mirror

We review our recent progress on the design, modeling and construction of all-normal dispersion Yb-doped fiber lasers mode-locked using a nonlinear amplifying loop mirror. The all-fiber nature of the devices we consider permits accurate numerical simulations with minimal approximations or free-running parameters, and we describe in detail a refined numerical modeling scheme that combines generalized nonlinear envelope equations with analytically simulated gain dynamics. Guided by insights obtained from numerical modeling, we have experimentally realized robust, environmentally stable laser designs that offer flexible operation performance for a wide variety of applications. In particular, the unique all-PM-fiber design makes our devices ideally suitable for industrial laser micromachining applications. (C) 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.