A system of two waveguides coupled laterally through small windows is consi
dered. The asymptotics (in the width of windows) of ground state close to t
he threshold is obtained for the case of finite number of apertures. The ca
ses of periodic system of coupling windows is studied. The asymptotics of t
he band edges is obtained. The technique is matching of asymptotic expansio
ns of the solutions. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. Ail rights reserved.