Analysis of single-mode optical Y-junction by the boundedstep and bend approximation

An approximate method for analyzing planar optical Y-junctions is presented. The junction structure is replaced by a discrete succession of bounded waveguide segments, and the presence of waveguide bends is assumed. Using this approximation, single-mode symmetrical Y-junctions operated as power dividers are investigated numerically. It is shown that strong mode conversion occurs between the guided and radiation modes of the local normal mode. A perturbation analysis shows that reflected fields are negligible. Reliable values of the transmitted power are obtained