Abstract

The finite-element method (FEM), although in principle being powerful for analyzing numerically optical waveguides, can in practice be limited by several factors. It is well known that its scalar versions are often not accurate enough, particularly if we are dealing with anisotropic media. If one exploits a vector functional, the number of triangular elements in the mesh can become an unacceptable limiting factor when the computer memory is not large enough. At the same time, fine details of the mesh can play an important role, but their careful preparation on a large computer can imply an unacceptably large waste of time and money.

© 1990 Optical Society of America