Vector finite element analysis of integrated optical waveguides

This paper presents applications of an efficient vector finite element formulation developed by the authors earlier for the analysis of integrated optical waveguides. It also presents for the first time the vector finite element solution of integrated semiconductor waveguides with active regions. This approach can treat a wide range of waveguide problems with arbitrarily-shaped cross-section and regions of inhomogeneity, anisotropy, and loss or gain. This method totally eliminates spurious solutions and gives solutions directly for the complex propagation constant. Unbounded optical waveguide structures are treated by the implementation of finite and infinite elements. The computer program developed is efficient and can be used to compute propagation constants and field distribution of complicated, realistic waveguide problems