Analysis of the Collocation Method for Simulating the Propagation of Optical Pulse Sequences

In analogy to the standard Split-Step Fourier algorithm for calculating the signal transmission through optical fibers, a Split-Step collocation algorithm is applied and analyzed in terms of its capability to calculate the propagation of pulse sequences in optical fibers. The method uses a point matching technique for the representation of short optical pulse sequences with Hermite-Gauss functions as basis. This special basis renders time consuming Fast Fourier Transformations (FFT) within the calculation unnecessary. The method is analyzed using realistic NRZ pulse sequences in the simulations. Accuracy and computational effort are evaluated in comparison to the Split-Step Fourier method.