Abstract
Propagation of a dark optical soliton is investigated in the neighborhood of the zero-group-dispersion wavelength. Analytical results are obtained in the small-amplitude limit when the soliton is described by the Korteweg–de Vries equation. It is predicted that dark solitons may exist near the zero-group-dispersion point, and the region is found where they are unstable and may be transformed into bright solitons on a pedestal.