OBSERVATION OF SOLITONS WITH MATHEMATICA(TM)

This paper shows that the formation and propagation of solitons can be easily observed and understood by using a simple numerical routine to solve a nonlinear Schrodinger equation that includes losses and third -order dispersion, A sequence of programs has been developed to assist the student to explore in depth several features of the soliton's for mation, propagation, and collision. These numerical routines were impl emented for the use with MATHEMATICAT(TM) and the results give a very clear idea of this interesting and important practical phenomenon.