Abstract
Properties of a relatively new type of waveguide structure of potential use for confining infrared radiation to a small mode volume over long path lengths are reviewed. A single guiding surface with curvature radius p and bend radius R allows propagation of a near-grazing incidence "whispering mode" of transverse width ≈ (λρR/π)1/2 and radial width ≈ 1/2 (λ2R)1/3. For sufficiently large p, the loss per revolution for TE-mode propagation is π AN, where AN is the normal-incidence reflection loss. Results on a number of prototype structures in general agreement with these considerations are described.© (1981) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.