It is shown how a straightforward regular perturbative analysis can be used
to derive an integral equation for the spectral shape of a dispersion-mana
ged soliton that takes fiber loss and amplification into account without re
sorting. to averaging. Using functional analysis, one can then find an accu
rate approximate Gaussian solution that should prove useful for the design
of a dispersion-managed transmission link. (C) 2000 Optical Society of Amer
ica. OCIS codes: 060.4510, 060.5530, 060.4370, 190.4370, 190.5530.