Nonlinear pulse distortion at the zero dispersion wavelength of an optical fibre

Abstract

Pulse propagation at the zero dispersion wavelength of a standard optical fibre is investigated experimentally and theoretically. The respective results are in remarkably good agreement and demonstrate that the combined influence of third order dispersion and fibre nonlinearity leads to severe distortions of the pulse temporal and spectral profiles. Using a straightforward physical model an analytical expression is derived which allows to calculate the critical experimental parameters for which significant nonlinear pulse distortion occurs.