Tutorial: linear and nonlinear effects in lightwave transmission: dispersion management in terrestrial and undersea systems

The performance of wavelength division multiplexing transmission systems over amplified fibre links, in terms of capacity and distance, is partly determined by linear and nonlinear propagation effects. The technique of dispersion management, alternating fibres of opposite chromatic dispersion, appeared as a fruitful method to contain propagation-induced distortion. The influence of the experimental conditions on the optimum dispersion map will be discussed through several examples.