Dispersion-adapted monomode fiber for propagation of nonlinear pulses

A method of compensating for attenuation in optical fiber systems which uses nonlinear wave propagation (solitons) to achieve high data capacity is discussed. This method is based on adjusting the dispersion parameter of the fiber as a function of the signal intensity along the fiber. A practical implementation of this method, where the fiber is fabricated with variable diameter, continuously adjusted during the drawing is proposed. The fiber tapering necessary to maintain a perfect balance in the nonlinear wave is sufficiently gradual to prevent additional losses. The shape of a signal in the form of an order-one soliton can then be kept invariant. A possible engineering approach where the continuously varying fiber is approximated by discrete sections is suggested.<>