Quantum noise in optical fibers II: Raman jitter in soliton communications

The dynamics of a soliton propagating in a single mode optical fiber with Raman coupling to thermal phonons is analyzed. Using both soliton perturbation theory, and exact numerical techniques, we predict that intrinsic thermal quantum noise effects due to the phonon reservoirs is a dominant source of jitter and other perturbations for short pulses (∼ 1ps). The size of the Raman timing jitter is evaluated for both bright and dark (topological) solitons, and is larger for bright solitons. Because Raman thermal quantum noise is a nonlinear, multiplicative noise source, these effects are stronger for the more intense pulses needed to propagate as solitons in the short-pulse regime. 060.4510, 270.5530, 270.3430, 190.4370, 190.5650, 060.2400