Fast photonic network modelling with new wavelet method

Pulse propagation in a nonlinear optical medium is described by the nonlinear Schrodinger equation. For large wavelength division multiplexing systems, the simulation time can run into weeks. We developed a new, flexible, fast and adaptive split-step wavelet collocation method (SSWCM). Using a set of compactly supported basis functions with cardinal property, the SSWCM has the complexity O(N). This is superior to the complexity O(N log/sub 2/ N) of the standard split-step Fourier method, and provides a substantial speed-up for large N.