Lecture 26

Dielectric Slab Waveguides

In this lecture you will learn:

• Dielectric slab waveguides

•TE and TM guided modes in dielectric slab waveguides

ECE 303 – Fall 2005 – Farhan Rana – Cornell University

TE Guided Modes in Parallel-Plate Metal Waveguides

r r
E (r ) = yˆ Eo sin(k x x ) e − j k z z
x >0
x

Ei Ei
r r r Ey
ki Er kr ki
Hi Hi
ε µo z
Hr

r r
k i = − k x xˆ + k z zˆ k r = k x xˆ + k z zˆ

Guided TE modes are TE-waves bouncing back and fourth between two metal
plates and propagating in the z-direction !

The x-component of the wavevector can have only discrete values – its quantized
mπ
kx = where : m = 1, 2, 3, KK
d

ECE 303 – Fall 2005 – Farhan Rana – Cornell University

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 Dielectric Waveguides - I
Consider TE-wave undergoing total internal reflection:
Ei x ε1 µo
r r
ki Er kr
H θi θi
r i r z
k i = − k x xˆ + k z zˆ Hr k r = k x xˆ + k z zˆ

Evanescent wave
ε 2 µo
ε1 > ε 2
r r
E (r ) = yˆ E i e − j (− k x x + kz z )
+ yˆ ΓE i e − j (k x x +kz z )
k z2 + k x2 = ω 2 µo ε 1
x >0

Γ = 1 when θ i > θc

When θ i > θc :
k x = − jα x
r r −α x x
E (r ) = yˆ T E i e − j kz z
e k z2 − α x2 = ω 2 µo ε 2
x <0

ECE 303 – Fall 2005 – Farhan Rana – Cornell University

Dielectric Waveguides - II

x
ε2 µo

Evanescent wave cladding

Ei Ei ε1 µo
r r r
ki Er kr ki core
Hi θi θi Hi
ε1 > ε 2 z
Hr

cladding
Evanescent wave
ε2 µo

One can have a guided wave that is bouncing between two dielectric interfaces
due to total internal reflection and moving in the z-direction

ECE 303 – Fall 2005 – Farhan Rana – Cornell University

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 Dielectric Slab Waveguides
W

2d
Assumption: W >> d

cladding

y core

cladding

ECE 303 – Fall 2005 – Farhan Rana – Cornell University

Dielectric Vs Metal Waveguides

m=2 ε µo
m=1
Ey Ey z

Metal Waveguides
(modes are tightly confined)

ε2 µo
cladding

Ey
core
Ey ε1 µo z

cladding

ε2 µo
Dielectric Slab Waveguides
(modes are loosely confined)
ECE 303 – Fall 2005 – Farhan Rana – Cornell University

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 Dielectric Slab Waveguides – TE Modes: Formal Solution
x ε2 µo
cladding

Ey
2d core
Ey ε1 µo z

cladding
symmetric
ε2 µo

antisymmetric
The TE solutions are of the form:
r r ⎧cos(k x x )⎫ − j k z z
E (r ) = yˆ Eo ⎨ ⎬e
x <d
⎩ sin(k x x ) ⎭ The “sine” and “cosine” represent
r r −α x ( x − d ) the symmetric and antisymmetric
E (r ) = yˆ E1 e e − j kz z
x >d solutions w.r.t. the z-axis
r r ⎧+ ⎫
E (r ) = ⎨ ⎬ yˆ E1 e +α x ( x + d ) e − j k z z
x < −d ⎩− ⎭
Where:

k z2 + k x2 = ω 2 µo ε 1 Given a frequency ω, the values of kz , kx ,

and αx are still not known
k z2 − α x2 2
= ω µo ε 2
ECE 303 – Fall 2005 – Farhan Rana – Cornell University

TE Modes: Boundary Conditions

x ε2 µo
cladding

Ey
2d core
Ey ε1 µo z

cladding

ε2 µo

Boundary conditions:

(1) At x =± d the component of E-field parallel to the interface (i.e. the y-component)
is continuous for all z
⎧cos(k x d )⎫
⇒ Eo ⎨ ⎬ = E1 (1)
⎩ sin(k x d ) ⎭

(2) At x =± d the component of H-field parallel to the interface (i.e. the z-component)
is continuous for all z
⎧ − k x sin(k x d )⎫
⇒ Eo ⎨ ⎬ = −α x E1 (2)
⎩ k x cos(k x d ) ⎭

ECE 303 – Fall 2005 – Farhan Rana – Cornell University

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 TE Modes: Transcendental Equation
x ε2 µo
cladding

Ey
2d core
Ey ε1 µo z

cladding

ε2 µo

Dividing (2) by (1) on the previous slide gives:

⎧ tan(k x d ) ⎫ α x
⎨ ⎬=
⎩ − cot (k x d )⎭ k x
But:
k z2 + k x2 = ω 2 µo ε 1
α x2 + k x2 = ω 2 µo (ε 1 − ε 2 )
k z2 − α x2 2
= ω µo ε 2
So we finally get:

⎧ tan(k x d ) ⎫ ω 2 µo (ε 1 − ε 2 ) Transcendental equation that can

⎨ ⎬= −1 be used to solve for kx in terms of
⎩ − cot (k x d )⎭ k x2 the frequency ω

ECE 303 – Fall 2005 – Farhan Rana – Cornell University

TE Modes: Graphical Solution

x ε2 µo
cladding

Ey
2d core
Ey ε1 µo z

cladding

ε2 µo

Graphic solution of the transcendental

Different red curves for Increasing ω values
equation

⎧ tan(k x d ) ⎫ ω 2 µo (ε 1 − ε 2 ) d 2
⎨ ⎬= −1
⎩ − cot (k x d )⎭ (k x d )2
LHS RHS
For the m-th TE mode (TEm mode)
the value of kx is in the range
0 π π 3π 2π 5π k xd
(depending on the frequency ω): 2 2 2
π π
(m − 1) ≤ k x d ≤ m
2 2
m = 1, 2, 3,KK
ECE 303 – Fall 2005 – Farhan Rana – Cornell University

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 TE Modes: Cut-off Frequencies
x ε2 µo
cladding

Ey
2d core
Ey ε1 µo z

cladding

ε2 µo

Different red curves for Increasing ω values

⎧ tan(k x d ) ⎫ ω 2 µo (ε 1 − ε 2 ) d 2
⎨ ⎬= −1
⎩ − cot (k x d )⎭ (k x d )2
LHS RHS
Cut-off frequency of the m-th TE
mode can be obtained by setting the
RHS equal to zero for kx d = (m-1)π/2 0 π π 3π 2π 5π k xd
2 2 2
(m − 1)π 1
ωm =
2d µo (ε 1 − ε 2 )

m = 1, 2, 3,KK
ECE 303 – Fall 2005 – Farhan Rana – Cornell University

Dielectric
x Waveguides – What is Cut-off ?
ε2 µo

cladding

Ei ε1 µo
kz
r Ei r
r
2d
Hi
ki
θi θi
Er kr
Hi
ki core
z
θi k x
Hr
ω µo ε 1
cladding
ε1 > ε2
ε2 µo

So what does “cut-off” really mean? It means that the wave is no longer being
guided through total internal reflection since θi < θc

A wave will not be guided if: For the m-th TE mode (TEm mode)
the smallest value of kx is:
θ i < θc ⇒ sin(θ i ) < sin(θc ) = ε 2 ε 1 π
kz
(m − 1)
⇒ < ε 2 ε1 2d
ω µo ε 1 So TEm mode will not be guided if:

⇒ k z < ω µo ε 2 kx
ω<
µo (ε 1 − ε 2 ) k (m −1)π
x=
⇒ ω 2 µo ε 1 − k x2 < ω µo ε 2 2d
kx (m − 1)π 1
⇒ ω< ⇒ ωm =
µo (ε 1 − ε 2 ) 2d µo (ε 1 − ε 2 )
ECE 303 – Fall 2005 – Farhan Rana – Cornell University

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 TE Modes: Near Cut-off Behavior

ε2 µo
cladding

Ey Different red curves for

core
ε1 µo z increasing ω values

cladding

ε2 µo

ω >> ω2 (TE2 mode well confined in the core)

ε2 µo 0 π π 3π k xd
cladding
2 2
Ey
core
ε1 µo z

cladding

ε2 µo

ω >≈ ω2 (TE2 mode near cut-off – mode not well confined in the core)

ECE 303 – Fall 2005 – Farhan Rana – Cornell University

TE Modes: Dispersion Curves

x ε2 µo
cladding

Ey
2d core
Ey ε1 µo z

cladding

ε2 µo

How does one obtain dispersion curves? kz TE3 mode

dispersion relation
(1) For a given frequency ω find kx using: kz = ω µo ε 1

⎧ tan(k x d ) ⎫
TE2 mode
ω 2 µo (ε 1 − ε 2 ) d 2 dispersion relation
⎨ ⎬= −1
⎩ − cot (k x d )⎭ (k x d )2
kz = ω µo ε 2
(2) Then find kz using:

k z = ω 2 µo ε 1 − k x2 TE1 mode
dispersion relation
ω
ω1 ω2 ω3
ECE 303 – Fall 2005 – Farhan Rana – Cornell University

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 TM Modes: Formal Solution
x ε2 µo
cladding

Hy
2d core
Hy ε1 µo z

cladding

ε2 µo

The TM solutions are of the form:

r r ⎧cos(k x x )⎫ − j k z z
H (r ) = yˆ Ho ⎨ ⎬e
x <d
⎩ sin(k x x ) ⎭
r r The “sine” and “cosine” represent
H (r ) = yˆ H1 e −α x ( x − d ) e − j k z z the symmetric and antisymmetric
x >d solutions w.r.t. the z-axis
r r ⎧+ ⎫
H (r ) = ⎨ ⎬ yˆ H1 e +α x ( x + d ) e − j k z z
x < −d ⎩− ⎭
Where:

k z2 + k x2 = ω 2 µo ε 1 Given a frequency ω, the values of kz , kx ,

and αx are still not known
k z2 − α x2 = ω 2 µo ε 2

ECE 303 – Fall 2005 – Farhan Rana – Cornell University

TM Modes: Boundary Conditions

x ε2 µo
cladding

Hy
2d core
Hy ε1 µo z

cladding

ε2 µo

Boundary conditions:

(1) At x =± d the component of H-field parallel to the interface (i.e. the y-component)
is continuous for all z
⎧cos(k x d )⎫
⇒ Ho ⎨ ⎬ = H1 (1)
⎩ sin(k x d ) ⎭
(2) At x =± d the component of E-field parallel to the interface (i.e. the z-component)
is continuous for all z
⎧ kx ⎫
⎪⎪ − ε sin(k x d )⎪⎪ αx
⇒ Ho ⎨ 1 ⎬=− H (2)
⎪
kx
cos(k x d ) ⎪ ε2 1
⎩⎪ ε 1 ⎭⎪
ECE 303 – Fall 2005 – Farhan Rana – Cornell University

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 TM Modes: Transcendental Equation
x ε2 µo
cladding

Hy
2d core
Hy ε1 µo z

cladding

ε2 µo

Dividing (2) by (1) on the previous slide gives:

⎧ tan(k x d ) ⎫ α x ε 1
⎨ ⎬=
⎩ − cot (k x d )⎭ k x ε 2
But:
k z2 + k x2 = ω 2 µo ε 1
α x2 + k x2 = ω 2 µo (ε 1 − ε 2 )
k z2 − α x2 2
= ω µo ε 2
So we finally get:

⎧ tan(k x d ) ⎫ ε 1 ω 2 µo (ε 1 − ε 2 )d 2 Transcendental equation that can

⎨ ⎬= −1 be used to solve for kx in terms of
⎩ − cot (k x d )⎭ ε 2 (k x d )2 the frequency ω

ECE 303 – Fall 2005 – Farhan Rana – Cornell University

TM Modes: Graphical Solution

x ε2 µo
cladding

Hy
2d core
Hy ε1 µo z

cladding

ε2 µo
Graphic solution of the transcendental
Different red curves for Increasing ω values
equation
⎧ tan(k x d ) ⎫ ε 1 ω 2 µo (ε 1 − ε 2 ) d 2
⎨ ⎬= −1
⎩ − cot (k x d )⎭ ε 2 (k x d )2

LHS RHS
For the m-th TM mode (TMm mode)
the value of kx is in the range
0 π π 3π 2π 5π k xd
(depending on the frequency ω): 2 2 2
π π
(m − 1) ≤ k x d ≤ m
2 2
m = 1, 2, 3,KK
ECE 303 – Fall 2005 – Farhan Rana – Cornell University

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 Fiber Optical Communications: Optical Fibers
cladding

9.0 µm core z

125 µm
cladding

cladding

core
z

Silica (SiO2) core and cladding materials

ECE 303 – Fall 2005 – Farhan Rana – Cornell University

Integrated Optics

2 um

An optical micro-ring filter (separates out An optical micro-splitter (splits light two
light of a particular color) – SEM ways) – SEM

Slab Waveguide
Si Si

SiO2 SiO2

Si Si

ECE 303 – Fall 2005 – Farhan Rana – Cornell University

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 Integrated Optics: Semiconductor Quantum Well Lasers

top metal

InP/InGaAsP
Waveguide

3 .0 µm
1 .0 µm thick
polyimide layer A microchip containing several
semiconductor laser stripes running in
parallel is shown.
The dielectric waveguide for a
semiconductor quantum well laser
with metal on top (for electrical
connection) is shown

ECE 303 – Fall 2005 – Farhan Rana – Cornell University

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