DISPERSION COMPENSATION FOR ULTRASHORT-PULSE TRANSMISSION USING 2-MODE FIBER EQUALIZERS

We numerically simulate ultrashort pulse propagation in dispersion compensated fiber links using two-mode equalizing fibers. By choosing a proper length ratio between the conventional single-mode fiber and the compensating two-mode fiber, both the dispersion and the dispersion slope can be eliminated simultaneously. As a result, dispersion compensated propagation of sub-picosecond pulses should be possible for distances in excess of 100 km. Our analysis shows that for sub-picosecond pulses, dispersion-limited propagation distances offered by this technique may significantly exceed those possible with soliton propagation. We also evaluate nonlinearity limits due to self-phase modulation.