Power-dependent enhancement in repeater spacing for dispersion-limited optical communication systems

We have found numerically an intensity-dependent increase in the repeater spacing for dispersion-limited lightwave transmission systems. The enhancement is due to the combination of nonlinearity and anomalous dispersion occurring in conventional fibres at 1.55 ¿m. For moderate powers we find about a factor of two enhancement in the repeater distance compared to the linear case. We also investigate the effects of laser frequency chirp.