Error free 80 Gb/s soliton transmission over trans-oceanic (>8000 km) distances using fast saturable absorbers and dispersion decreasing fibre

We present a numerical study of the use of fast saturable absorbers in conjunction with dispersion decreasing fibre (DDF) to achieve enhanced transmission of 80 Gb/s solitons over ultralong distances (8,350 km) with an amplifier spacing of 50 km. Optical solitons are an attractive solution to the problems imposed by dispersion and self-phase modulation in high bit rate, long distance, optical fibre telecommunication systems. Optical time division multiplexing (OTDM) of narrow soliton pulses allows these systems to be uprated to ultrahigh bit rates without any need for ultrahigh speed electronic circuits