Averaged-dispersion management for ultrashort soliton molecule propagation in lossy fibre systems

In this study we successfully designed ultrashort soliton molecules, required for ultra-high-speed fibre transmission systems, by means of average dispersion management in the presence of losses and periodic amplification. We also conducted a systematic numerical investigation of the individual and combined impacts of third-order dispersion, self-steepening and stimulated Raman scattering on the behaviour of two- and three-soliton molecules in the femtosecond regime, in particular, with respect to the breathing factor. We show that all the considered higher-order effects substantially hinder the propagation of soliton molecules. Finally, we suggest that optimal third-order dispersion compensation, combined with a correct choice of the breathing factor, may allow reduction of the penalties due to self-steepening and stimulated Raman scattering.