Abstract

The field configurations and propagation constants of the normal modes of a hollow rectangular dielectric waveguide have been determined. In addition, the coupling coefficients of a Gaussian free-space mode into the normal modes of a square guide were calculated. The attenuation of each mode is found to be inversely proportional to the cube of the guide aperture 2a and proportional to the square of the free-space wavelength λ. For a hollow dielectric square guide with 2a = 1 mm and λ = 10.6 μm, an attenuation of 0.140 dB/m is predicted for SiO₂ and 0.032 dB/m for BeO. All modes are found to be hybrid modes, although they very closely approximate linearly polarized TEM modes.

© 1976 Optical Society of America

Propagation of infrared light in flexible hollow waveguides

E. Garmire, T. McMahon, and M. Bass
Appl. Opt. 15(1) 145-150 (1976)

Hollow rectangular dielectric waveguides: errata

K. D. Laakmann
Appl. Opt. 15(9) 2029-2029 (1976)

Positive-permittivity-metal cladding: its effect on the modes of dielectric optical waveguides

S. C. Rashleigh
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Propagation of ir light in flexible hollow waveguides: further discussion

E. Garmire
Appl. Opt. 15(12) 3037-3039 (1976)

Propagation properties of a multilayer optical waveguide with an attenuating sheet

M. Bertolotti, M. Galeotti, and D. Sette
Appl. Opt. 15(3) 802-804 (1976)