Starting dynamics of dissipative-soliton fiber laser

We study the starting dynamics of an all-normal-dispersion Yb-doped fiber laser experimentally and compare them to an existing stochastic model of starting from quantum noise. The laser reaches mode locking 10 to 100 times faster than a soliton laser with similar parameters. According to the model, the fast starting can be attributed to the large pulse energy in the normal-dispersion laser. We also report direct observations of starting from relaxation oscillations and discuss that process in light of the theory.