Soliton propagation without transmission controlusing a phase-locked erbium fibre ring laser

Abstract
2.5 Gbit.s-1 solitons have been transmitted a distance of 17 600 km in a recirculating loop without transmission control. To achieve this a new stabilisation technique for modelocked erbium fibre lasers has been implemented. Cavity length changes are tracked with an electronic phaselock loop and the phase of the RF drive adjusted accordingly.