Bundled solitons collision-induced frequency shifts in multiple-channel WDM dispersion managed systems

We extend previous studies on collision-induced residual frequency shifts in wavelength division multiplexed strongly dispersion managed soliton systems. The analyses include the effect of third-order dispersion, which is a key defining parameter of this type of transmission systems. We show that a design criterion based on choosing specific optimal values of the dispersion difference progressively loses its relevance as the number of channels grows in the presence of third-order dispersion. Next, we address the general case where optical soliton trains propagate in an amplified multiple channel coarse wavelength-division multiplexed communication link. The results obtained for a large number of pulses per channel confirm the validity of our previous design rules for the optimal placement of the amplifiers whereas the regular patterns that provide optimal designs based on specific values of dispersion difference are washed out. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.