We consider the interaction of an optical soliton with a low-intensity dispersive wave copropagating in a nonlinear optical fiber. In specially prepared cases the dispersive wave is reflected at the soliton barrier, whilst the soliton acquires a permanent shift in frequency and may experience switching to a new state with a considerable increase of peak power.

We present an adiabatic theory that quantifies the soliton behaviour and suggests optimal initial parameter values for the dispersive wave. Our approach resides in a revised soliton perturbation theory combined with quantum mechanical scattering theory for the dispersive wave.