Abstract

Nonlinear pulse propagation in single-mode fibers is studied numerically using the beam-propagation method. In particular, we consider wave propagation at the zero-dispersion wavelength. Depending on the relative importance of the nonlinear and the higher-order dispersive effects, both the pulse shape and the pulse spectrum show qualitatively different behavior and new features arise when the two effects are comparable. For typical system parameters, the nonlinear and dispersive contributions are comparable for a specific pulse width τ_c ~ 1 ps. When the pulses are broader than τ_c, nonlinearity dominates and leads to significant pulse broadening that would limit the performance of high-data-rate optical communication systems operating at the zero-dispersion wavelength.¹ For pulses shorter than τ_c, dispersion dominates and is responsible for the pulse broadening. Interestingly enough, the nonlinearity can reduce the amount of broadening relative to that occurring in a linear dispersive medium.

© 1985 Optical Society of America