Optical analogue of a type II semiconductor heterostructure

A succession of directional couplers, which differ only through their refra ctive index distribution, is shown to be the optical analog of type II semi conductor heterostructures. The design of such a dielectric structure with the same transmission characteristic of the electric field propagating thro ugh it as the electron wave function in a type II heterostructure is discus sed. An example of the design procedure is also given. (C) 2000 American In stitute of Physics.[S0021-8979(00)06813-4].