Guided waves along an optical fiber with parabolic index profile

Abstract

Eigenvalues and group velocities of guided waves along an optical fiber having a parabolic index profile are calculated. To obtain more accurate results, a variational expression for the propagation constant is derived. For graded fibers with small index differences between core and cladding, the theory is simplified like that of the step index fiber with a small index difference. From this simplified formula, various properties of optical fibers with parabolic index profile are investigated.