An Approximate Solution to the Wave Equation - Revisited

Abstract

We revisit here an old but neglected approximate analytic solution to the electromagnetic wave equation. Our method of derivation is reminiscent of the WKB methodology but the solution, although approximate, is much more accurate than the traditional WKB solution and can be used with almost as much ease. The method is extremely powerful but, to our knowledge, has never been used by the optics community, where its use in analyzing optical fibers and integrated optical waveguides would be beneficial.