Beam Waveguides and Guided Propagation

Abstract

Publisher Summary The purpose of this chapter is to provide a sufficiently wide picture on guided propagation that can provide also an idea of the direction, in which the present research work is going. After a schematization of the general problem, the methods of analytical approach are outlined that can then be applied for the solution of particular problems encountered when different guiding structures are considered. Continuous longitudinal structures are examined, suitable for different frequency ranges as well as transverse periodical structures. Indefinite guiding media that can be of interest for a first approach and understanding of the behavior of practical structures like optical fibers, dye laser, etc. are also examined. This chapter considers two main types of guided propagation: first, the guidance is performed by means of a structure, whereas in the second propagation occurs in an infinite medium having particular guiding properties. As for the first type, metallic waveguides and dielectric rods as well as open transverse structures, the so-called beam waveguides, have been considered. While in the metallic waveguides the guidance properties depend only on the geometry of the guide in the dielectric waveguides, the guidance depends both on the geometry and on the medium properties constituting the dielectric rod.