Self-similar core and oscillatory tails of a path-averaged chirped dispersion-managed optical pulse.

We describe the breathing dynamics of the self-similar core and the oscillating tails of a dispersion-managed (DM) soliton. The path-averaged propagation equation governing the shape of the DM soliton in an arbitrary dispersion map is derived. The developed theory correctly predicts the locations of the dips in the tails of the DM soliton. A general solution of the propagation equation is presented in terms of chirped Gauss-Hermite orthogonal functions.