We review various methods used to study the dispersion managed soliton for nonlinear return-to-zero pulse propagation in optical fibers. A numerical averaging method, the guiding center soliton, the variational method both with a simple and with an extended ansatz, as well as the multiscale theory are discussed and numerically compared, allowing us to show their domains of applicability. Their relative merits and demerits are then exposed. (c) 2000 American Institute of Physics.

We report what we believe to be the first results on short-pulse generation in Yb(3+) :silica fiber. By applying the stretched pulse technique in a unidirectional, polarization-switch Yb(3+) fiber laser incorporating a prism-based dispersive delay line, we obtain self-start mode locking and 100-pJ pulses that can be compressed to give clean chirp-free <100-fs pulses. We believe such sources to have great potential for use not only in all-solid-state, high-power femtosecond pulse systems based on Yb(3+) :silica glass but also as seeds for conventional Nd(3+) :glass amplifier chains.

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