Comparative study of asymmetric versus symmetric planar slab dielectric optical waveguides

Abstract

In this paper we have studied the asymmetric versus symmetric planar waveguide in terms of their usefulness in optical fiber communication systems. We have explored the thin waveguide versus thick waveguide first. Later on usefulness of asymmetric versus symmetric waveguide is carried out to target for WDM optical network application. All kinds of optical network components are fabricated on Si substrate with the point of view of their application. Here asymmetric planar structure may be more useful compared to symmetric waveguide in terms of their non-uniform power confinement properties. However, the symmetric waveguide structure may be more useful for their high power confinement properties. It is well known that the thin symmetric waveguide supports at least one mode. However the thick waveguide may support many even as well as odd modes. We study the power confinement properties for symmetric as well as asymmetric waveguide structure. We conclude that higher order modes show the nonlinear power variations. Mode field profile for various cases is discussed as well. Comparative study between asymmetric versus symmetric waveguide has a lot of significance in optical network area. It has been shown through analysis that in asymmetric waveguide, the power flows more through film region in the case of fundamental mode. Power confinement properties for asymmetric waveguide versus symmetric waveguide have been studied.