Analysis of dielectric guides by vector transverse magnetic field finite elements

Abstract
A transverse magnetic field formulation of the finite-element method for solving lightwave propagation in optical guides has been implemented. The method requires that the interface boundary conditions for E/sub Z/ and H/sub Z/ be imposed, and this is performed by solving the vector wave equation in the null space of the boundary operator. Results for a three-layer ridge waveguide, even with a very coarse mesh, compare well with published values. In addition, results for a lossless MQW (multiple-quantum-well) ridge guide; again using a coarse mesh, show excellent agreement with results from a variable mesh semi-vectorial finite-difference program.