FINITE-ELEMENT FULL-VECTORIAL PROPAGATION ANALYSIS FOR 3-DIMENSIONAL Z-VARYING OPTICAL WAVE-GUIDES

A finite-element-based full-vectorial beam propagation method (BPM) fo r the analysis of the electromagnetic field evolution in three-dimensi onal (3-D) dielectric waveguides is presented. The approach has been d erived in order to be suitable for the numerical discretization throug h finite elements and to fully account for the vectorial nature of the electromagnetic field. To this aim the problem related to the permitt ivity derivative at dielectric interface has been addressed and overco me, The advantages and the potentialities of the finite elements usage are discussed. The precision and the correctness of the proposed appr oach is demonstrated through numerical examples. Typical integrated op tics structures, as a tapered waveguide and a Y-junction, are analyzed to assess the applicability of the method.