Abstract

The theoretical basis of soliton physics as represented by inverse scattering theory [1] critically depends on the system under study being integrable. In real world cases, however, integrability is the exception, not the rule. The soliton content of a pulse propagation in a lossy fiber can therefore not be determined with inverse scattering. Here we discuss the evolution of a soliton contained in a pulse in a fiber with realistic energy loss with a novel technique. This technique, the soliton-radiation beat analysis [2], is able to determine the soliton content in an arbitrary pulse shape, and operates without making any assumptions about integrability. It has already been demonstrated to work in the case of non-stationary parameters (dispersion-managed fiber, another situation where inverse scattering fails). Soliton-radiation beat analysis starts from the idea that the signal in the fiber is a superposition of the soliton proper and some radiation. The superposition can be decomposed by analyzing the beat note between the two components. The required beat note can always be obtained by a numerical simulation.

© 2007 IEEE