A novel device arrangement for all-optical switching that permits efficient exploitation of waveguide nonlinearities is discussed. It is based on a long optical fiber loop mirror with an integral short asymmetrically located optical amplifier. The device performance is demonstrated by using a Nd(3+)-doped fiber amplifier. Switching is obtained for peak signal powers of less than 1 W and an amplifier pump power of 10 mW.

Cross-phase and self-phase modulation are used for self-sustained mode locking of a high-power neodymium glass fiber laser. Stable pulses with a FWHM as short as 70 fs and pulse energies of as much as 1 nJ are generated at a wavelength of 1.064 microm.

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The generation of bandwidth-limited shoulder-free 125-fsec pulses by additive-pulse-compression mode locking of a neodymium glass laser is described. An all-fiber nonlinear amplifying loop mirror is employed as a fast saturable absorber and permits stable pulse generation under the condition of large pulse shaping in the cavity.

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