Optical Waveguides describes waveguide phenomena in classical optical terms. This book discusses mode propagation by using equivalent plane waves, polarization, rays, and intensity distributions. Comprised of seven chapters, this book starts with an overview of the history of optical waveguides with emphasis on the earliest studies of dielectric guides. This text then explores the theoretical treatment of guided waves in planar dielectric waveguides in terms of the characteristic modes of these structures. Other chapters consider the interferometric description of the coupling of a uniform beam of light into a thin film through the mechanism of frustrated total reflection. This book discusses as well the properties of the modes of fiber optical waveguides. The final chapter deals with the general properties of the characteristic TE wave (modes) of a symmetric slab guide by direct solution of the homogeneous Maxwell equations. Students of optics and physics, as well as electronic, optical, and communications engineers, will find this book useful.

Table of Contents:
PrefaceAcknowledgmentsChapter 1. Historical Sketch ReferencesChapter 2. Slab Waveguides A. Waveguide Concepts and Terminology B. Planar Waveguides: A Classical Approach to the Determination of the Modes C. Characteristic TE Modes of the Planar Slab Waveguide ReferencesChapter 3. Distributed Coupling in Slab Waveguides A. Frustrated Total Reflection Filter and Planar Waveguides B. Leaky Waves and the Concept of the Spatial Transient C. Distributed Coupling between Parallel Planar Waveguides D. Lateral Shifts of Light Beams on Transmission and Reflection at FTR Layers Appendix ReferencesChapter 4. Guided Waves along Circular Waveguides A. Waves in Hollow, Perfectly Conducting Pipes B. Guided Waves on Circular Dielectric Cylinders C. Plane-Wave Decomposition of the Dielectric Waveguide Modes D. Mode Combinations and the Continuous Mode Spectrum E. Anisotropic Circular Dielectric Waveguide ReferencesChapter 5. Waveguide Mode Launching A. Early Optical Mode Launching Techniques B. Mode Launching Using Spatial Filtering ReferencesChapter 6. Near- and Far-Field Observation of Circular Waveguide Modes A. Qualitative Description of Observed Mode Patterns B. Radiation Patterns of Circular Waveguide Modes C. Quantitative Mode Description in Optical Waveguides and Resonators ReferencesChapter 7. Evanescent Surface Waves and Waveguide Interactions A. Enhanced Transmission with Surface Waves B. Distributed Coupling in Fiber-Waveguides ReferencesAppendix A. Noncircular Dielectric Waveguides A. Introduction B. Elliptical Dielectric Waveguides C. Rectangular Dielectric Waveguides D. Summary and Conclusions ReferencesAppendix B. Hollow Dielectric Waveguides A. Introduction B. Theory C. Experiment D. Summary ReferencesAuthor IndexSubject Index