TM TE MODAL SOLUTIONS FOR SUBMICRON LOSSY METAL-CLAD OPTICAL FIBERS/

A finite-element approach with the aid of the perturbation technique i s used to determine the complex propagation characteristics of lossy m etal-clad optical fibres. The fundamental optical modal field profiles of these structures for the pure TE and TM polarisation are investiga ted. Metal-clad optical fibres of submicron dimensions find an importa nt application in near-field optical scanning microscopy, a technique rapidly developing in recent years, providing high-resolution imaging in the semiconductor industry and in applications in the biological sc iences.