Approximation method for fast calculation of transmission in multi-mode waveguides

Freeform dielectric waveguides connect optical chips made of different materials in fully integrated devices. With a spatial extent in the order of 100 mu m, they constitute a computational challenge and make full-wave solvers unhandy for the accelerated design. Therefore, it is of utmost importance to have tools mit the fast prediction of waveguide loss to enable the rapid optimization of waveguide trajectories. developed methods relied on the assumption that only a single mode propagates in the waveguide. However, propagation of higher-order modes is not just unavoidable due to the geometry of the waveguides, but times, beneficial as it increases the number of channels to transmit information. In this contribution, an approximate method for the fast calculation of transmission that accommodates the presence of higher-order waveguide modes, and assess its liability by describing light propagation through selected devices. (c) Publishing Group