System performance of practical broadband dispersion-compensating gratings

Summary form only given. We describe a simple model that relates the time delay characteristics of dispersion-compensating gratings (DCGs) to the system performance. While it is generally agreed that time delay ripples have an impact on the performance, there is a debate concerning the extent to which ripples limit the application of DCGs in 10-Gbit/s transmission systems. The present model helps to provide an answer to this question.