Transverse Propagation Constants in Dielectric Waveguides.

Dielectric waveguides have been proposed as a transmission medium at optical and millimeter wave frequencies. In each case, calculations of the transverse propagation constants were carried out based on simplifying assumptions which allowed a closed form solution to basic transcendental equations. In this report, exact calculations of the transverse propagation constants were made for silicon waveguides having various aspect ratios by solving the transcendental equations on a programmed calculator. No simplifying assumptions were made. The results were used to compute guide wavelengths, and the values were compared to the values obtained experimentally and to those calculated using approximate formulas. The validity of the approximations and the conditions and circumstances in which it is appropriate to use them are discussed. Author