Bent Optical Waveguide with Lossy Jacket

Vol. 53, No. 6. July-August 1974 Printed in U.S.A. Bent Optical Waveguide With Lossy Jacket By D. MARCUSE (Manuscript received D e c e m b e r 20, 1973) The influence of a lossy jacket on the curvature losses of a bent optical waveguide is studied for the special case of the TE modes of a slab waveguide. This paper presents an approximate theory of curvature losses of the TE modes of dielectric slabs that can be used to obtain numerical answers with the help of a computer. We conclude that the presence of a jacket can increase Lhe curvature losses very substantially. A jacket whose refractive index is larger than that of the waveguide cladding is most effective in increasing cladding losses. It is advisable to keep a jacket at a safe distance from the waveguide core.