Simulation of Third-Order Dispersion Effects on Pulse Propagation in Optical Fibers

The simulation employs a split-step Fourier method approach where pulse propagation is modeled in both frequency and time domains. The implementation involves taking the Fourier transform of the input pulse to convert it to the frequency domain, applying the third-order dispersion operator (characterized by the β3 parameter), and then transforming back to the time domain using the inverse Fourier transform. The core algorithm calculates the dispersion effects through frequency-dependent phase shifts, where higher-order dispersion terms introduce asymmetric pulse distortion and oscillatory features. This numerical approach efficiently simulates how third-order dispersion causes pulse broadening, timing jitter, and waveform deformation - critical factors affecting bandwidth and signal integrity in fiber-optic communication systems. The code structure typically includes parameter initialization for dispersion coefficients, FFT/IFFT operations for domain transitions, and visualization functions to compare input and distorted pulse profiles. Understanding these effects is essential for optimizing dispersion compensation strategies in high-speed optical networks.