Fields of optical waveguides as waves in free space - art. no. 026603

It is shown by using the scalar diffraction theory and the method of images that the arbitrary field confined by by the optical waveguide can be gener ated in free space by the appropriate light source. The correspondence betw een the guided and free-space waves is illustrated using several particular fields, such as the diffraction-free, self-imaging, ultra-short, solitonli ke, partially coherent waves and laser fractals. In opposition to the eigen mode theory of waveguides, the field at the guide entrance can satisfy neit her the guide wave-equation nor the boundary conditions.