Soliton wavelength-division multiplexing system with channel-isolating notch filters

We propose a wavelength-division multiplexing system in which transmission of solitons is stabilized by fixed- or sliding-frequency notch filters (a s oliton rail), providing channel isolation. We demonstrate analytically and numerically that a soliton trapped in a channel between two notches is very robust. We also predict an optimum ratio between the channel separation an d the soliton's spectral width. The effects of interchannel collisions are considered, and it is demonstrated that these effects can be largely elimin ated by notch filters, which require a compensatory gain that is comparable with the basic gain balancing the fiber loss. (C) 1999 Optical Society of America.