Timing jitter in wavelength-division-multiplexed filtered soliton transmission

The combined effect of lumped filtering and the gain–loss periodicity in a wavelength-division-multiplexed soliton system is evaluated. We find that even with an ideal dispersion tapering that cancels the effect of the gain–loss dynamics, lumped filtering gives a permanent timing displacement after two-soliton collision. The implications on wavelength-division-multiplexed soliton transmission with a large number of channels is discussed. A statistical approach is used to give an estimate of the timing jitter induced by two-soliton collisions in soliton wavelength-division-multiplexed systems.