Abstract

The spectral representation of an electromagnetic field in a uniaxial optical waveguide excited by a line source is presented. All types of modes that can be excited and propagated in an optical waveguide are included in this representation in a natural way. Both the discrete and the continuous parts of the proper waves in the spectrum are investigated. An important contribution to the diffractional field is made by the so-called lateral wave. Lateral waves are closely associated with the phenomenon of total reflection and arise from the presence of branch-point singularities of the reflection coefficients. In the structure of uniaxial asymmetric waveguides two sets of lateral waves may propagate along two interfaces of a waveguide. A detailed wave-optical analysis of the propagation is presented.

© 1991 Optical Society of America

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