<title>Optical soliton: first paper and the history that resulted from it</title>

Abstract

A quarter of a century ago, the lightwave envelope in an optical fiber was shown to be described by the nonlinear Schrodinger Equation. A localized stationary and stable optical pulse (optical soliton) found as its solution was suggested as a carrier of ultra-high speed data transmission. Now the soliton based ultra-high speed communication is vigorously pursued around the world. Furthermore, the nonlinear Schrodinger equation model is widely used as the simulator of information transmission in fibers in general not limited to solitons. Looking back the historical development of optical soliton research is an interesting case study of how an abstract mathematical concept is put into practical use. This development is a consequence of combined efforts of prominent scientists and engineers around the world. However the most significant factor that has contributed to this success is the appropriateness of the god given physical parameters in fibers. Thus it is a sin not to take advantage of this rear opportunity. History of application of optical solitons for high speed signal transmission in fibers may be divided into five stages, (1) historical background and the discovery of the optical soliton, (2) idea and demonstration of all optical soliton transmission systems, (3) identification of possible problems, (4) demonstration of soliton control and (5) Discovery of Dispersion Managed Optical Solitons. In addition, other application of solitons such as modulational instability, dark solitons, spatial solitons are currently vigorously pursued.