Abstract

A novel technique, numerical path integration, has been developed as a tool for computer-aided integrated-optical device design. The features that recommend its use are (i) computational simplicity and (ii) the ability to accomodate arbitrarily graded refractive-index distributions. In this paper we present a brief overview of the theory behind numerical path integration and present applications of this method to analyze Ti:LiNbO₃ waveguide structures, illustrating both the accuracy of the method as well as its ability to provide meaningful information in real device design.¹

© 1987 Optical Society of America