Higher-order asymptotic analysis of dispersion-managed transmission systems: solutions and their characteristics

A higher-order, multiple-scale asymptotic analysis is made of the perturbed nonlinear Schrodinger equation in a strong dispersion-managed optical transmission system. It is found that the averaged equation with the next-order term included significantly improves the description of the characteristics of dispersion-managed solitons. The derived equation is shown to support a new class of soliton solutions, namely, multihump solitons, which depend on both the map strength and dispersion profile. Numerical evidence of the regions of existence and stability of such new solitons is discussed.