Propagation characteristics of novel gain-guided segmented planar waveguides

Abstract

We propose a new class of segmented waveguides, namely gain-guided periodic segmented waveguides (GG-PSW), in which the guidance is brought about by a periodic linear array of gain guiding regions embedded in a homogeneous medium. Corresponding to a planar GG-PSW with segments having parabolic gain variation in the transverse direction, we have obtained the fundamental guided mode parameters using the complex ABCD matrix formulation for Gaussian beam propagation. The dependence of the effective index, spot size and gain coefficient of the mode on the duty cycle of segmentation and the gain parameter of the segments is presented for practical values corresponding to InGaAsP. Such waveguides are expected to find applications in the design of novel waveguide devices in semiconducting substrates.