Contra-directional coupling in grating-assisted guided-wave devices

Contradirectional power coupling in grating-assisted guided-wave devices is studied by applying a vector nonorthogonal coupled-mode formulation. The coupled-mode equations are solved by a transfer matrix method. All the space-harmonics generated by the periodic grating are considered. The coupling can be understood in terms of the interference among the normal modes of coupled waveguides with a grating perturbation. Phase-matching grating periods for maximum reflections are equal to the beat lengths between the two normal modes involved in the coupling process. The reflections are built up constructively (Bragg reflection), resulting in stopbands in the spectral response. The expressions for the grating periods are obtained and compared with those derived from conventional phase-matching conditions