gnlse-python: Open Source Software to Simulate Nonlinear Light Propagation In Optical Fibers

Abstract

The propagation of pulses in optical fibers is described by the generalized nonlinear Schrodinger equation (GNLSE), which takes into account the fiber losses, nonlinear effects, and higher-order chromatic dispersion. The GNLSE is a partial differential equation, whose order depends on the accounted nonlinear and dispersion effects. We present gnlse-python, a nonlinear optics modeling toolbox that contains a rich set of components and modules to solve the GNLSE using the split-step Fourier transform method (SSFM). The numerical solver is freely available, implemented in Python language, and includes a number of optical fiber analysis tools. Code and data are available online.