Guided light propagation in dielectric slab waveguide with conducting interfaces

Abstract

In this paper, the possibility of guided light propagation in dielectric slab waveguides in the presence of interface free charge layers is explored. It is shown that, under certain conditions, the interface charge layer can have no influence on the TM or TE polarized guided modes. The density, and therefore the conductivity, of the interface free charges can be controlled by a transverse dc voltage. It is concluded that the applied voltage across such a structure can be used for switching the light propagation on or off. This device finds numerous applications in integrated optics, as discussed here. A design example is also presented.