Sideband generation through perturbations to the average soliton model

It is shown that the mechanism for sideband formation in erbium mode-locked soliton fiber lasers is a perturbation to the average nonlinear Schrodinger equation (NLSE) allied to a phase matching criterion. Numerical simulations in agreement with the theoretical description are presented. While the problem has been formulated in terms of a linear, or ring cavity, the same underlying process will occur in figure of eight or other configurations. The theory is equally applicable to soliton transmission systems.<
>