On the dispersion managed soliton

We review various methods used to study the dispersion managed soliton for nonlinear return-to-zero pulse propagation in optical fibers. A numerical averaging method, the guiding center soliton, the variational method both with a simple and with an extended ansatz, as well as the multiscale theory are discussed and numerically compared, allowing us to show their domains of applicability. Their relative merits and demerits are then exposed. (c) 2000 American Institute of Physics.