On the dispersion managed soliton

We review various methods used to study the dispersion managed soliton for nonlinear return-to-zero pulse propagation in optical fibers. A numerical a veraging method, the guiding center soliton, the variational method both wi th a simple and with an extended ansatz, as well as the multiscale theory a re discussed and numerically compared, allowing us to show their domains of applicability. Their relative merits and demerits are then exposed. (C) 20 00 American Institute of Physics. [S1054-1500(00)00503-6].