Analytic solution to field distribution in two-dimensional inhomogeneous waveguides

Abstract

We present a novel theoretical approach for analytically solving wave propagation through two-dimensional (2D) inhomogeneous slab waveguides. The validity and reliability of our analytical approach is verified by its application to electrical field distribution in 2D waveguides, when compared with numerically exact solution. The main advantage of this theoretical treatment is that the obtained solution is global and can be presented in an analytical form. The effects of the refractive index profile on the guided modes are analyzed by introducing the field distributions of the guided modes. Our analytical calculations show significant potential for use in various applications.

Keywords:

• inhomogeneous optical media
• wave propagation
• inhomogeneous waveguide
• electric field

Acknowledgements

The authors gratefully acknowledge the financial support provided to this study by NSERC (Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council) and NSERC’s CREATE (Collaborative Research Training Experience) Program ASPIRE (Applied Science in Photonics and Innovative Research in Engineering), both of Canada, also by the projects “New creative teams in priorities of scientific research” and the IT4Innovations Centre of Excellence project (CZ.1.05/1.1.00/02.0070), Czech Republic. We gratefully acknowledge helpful discussions with members of Cada’s photonics research group.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.