Abstract

Choice of the “all-optical” approach- transmission without the more customary electronic regeneration every 500 km or so- has recently been dictated by the logistics and economics of ultra-long-haul, Terabit-level, dense WDM. The “all-Raman” approach to optical amplification is increasingly perceived as a key enabler to such all-optical transmission. In this talk I shall outline the many advantages of that approach, as well as offer a brief description of the complementary key, viz., dispersion-managed solitons. Together, the two technologies enable the creation of truly all-optical networks spanning vast geographical regions, such as that of the North American continent.

© 2001 Optical Society of America