Soliton-like solutions of a derivative nonlinear Schrödinger equation with variable coefficients in inhomogeneous optical fibers

Under investigation in this paper is a derivative nonlinear Schrödinger equation with variable coefficients, which governs the propagation of the subpicosecond soliton pulses in inhomogeneous optical fibers. Through the nonisospectral Kaup–Newell scheme, the Lax pair is constructed with some constraints on the variable coefficients. Under the integrable conditions, bright one- and multi-soliton-like solutions are derived via the Hirota method. By suitably choosing the dispersion coefficient function, several types of inhomogeneous solitons are obtained in, respectively: (1) exponentially decreasing dispersion profile, (2) linearly decreasing dispersion profile, (3) exponentially increasing dispersion profile, and (4) periodically fluctuating dispersion profile. The intensity of the inhomogeneous soliton can be controlled by means of modifying the loss/gain term. Asymptotic analysis of the two-soliton-like solution is performed, which shows that the changes of the widths, amplitudes, and energies before and after the collision are completely caused by the variable coefficients, but have nothing to do with the collision between two soliton-like envelopes. Through suitable choices of variable coefficients, figures are plotted to illustrate the collision behavior between two inhomogeneous solitons, which has some potential applications in the real optical communication systems.