Mediaspace scheduled maintenance: Aug 25, 2026 07:00 - 12:00 AM. During this time, videos will be temporarily unavailable. Check status updates.

Lecture

Dielectric Waveguides: Modes and Dispersion

In course

PHYS-317: Optics I

L'optique est un vieux domaine qui touche à beaucoup de sujets modernes, des techniques expérimentales aux applications courantes. Ce premier cours traite plusieurs aspects de base de l'optique: propagation, dispersion, interférence, diffraction, polarisat ...

Description

This lecture covers the modes of dielectric waveguides, including TE and TM modes, guided modes, multimodal fields, and the dispersion of waveguides. It explains the formation of electric fields, the phase conditions defining guide modes, and the gradual change of index in waveguides.

Instructor

Benjamin Dwir

Academic title: Dr. Birth date: 24.10.1959 Nationality: Swiss At EPFL since: 1988

Official source

Related concepts (32)

Waveguide

A waveguide is a structure that guides waves, such as sound (acoustic waveguide), light (optical waveguide), radio waves (radio-frequency waveguide) or other electromagnetic waves, with minimal loss of energy by restricting the transmission of energy to one direction. Without the physical constraint of a waveguide, wave intensities decrease according to the inverse square law as they expand into three-dimensional space. There are different types of waveguides for different types of waves.

Surface wave

In physics, a surface wave is a mechanical wave that propagates along the interface between differing media. A common example is gravity waves along the surface of liquids, such as ocean waves. Gravity waves can also occur within liquids, at the interface between two fluids with different densities. Elastic surface waves can travel along the surface of solids, such as Rayleigh or Love waves. Electromagnetic waves can also propagate as "surface waves" in that they can be guided along with a refractive index gradient or along an interface between two media having different dielectric constants.

Wave vector

In physics, a wave vector (or wavevector) is a vector used in describing a wave, with a typical unit being cycle per metre. It has a magnitude and direction. Its magnitude is the wavenumber of the wave (inversely proportional to the wavelength), and its direction is perpendicular to the wavefront. In isotropic media, this is also the direction of wave propagation. A closely related vector is the angular wave vector (or angular wavevector), with a typical unit being radian per metre.

Wave

In physics, mathematics, engineering, and related fields, a wave is a propagating dynamic disturbance (change from equilibrium) of one or more quantities. Waves can be periodic, in which case those quantities oscillate repeatedly about an equilibrium (resting) value at some frequency. When the entire waveform moves in one direction, it is said to be a traveling wave; by contrast, a pair of superimposed periodic waves traveling in opposite directions makes a standing wave.

Propagation constant

The propagation constant of a sinusoidal electromagnetic wave is a measure of the change undergone by the amplitude and phase of the wave as it propagates in a given direction. The quantity being measured can be the voltage, the current in a circuit, or a field vector such as electric field strength or flux density. The propagation constant itself measures the change per unit length, but it is otherwise dimensionless. In the context of two-port networks and their cascades, propagation constant measures the change undergone by the source quantity as it propagates from one port to the next.

Related lectures (30)

Plasma Waves: Properties & Frequencies MOOC: Plasma Physics: Introduction

Explores the properties of plasma waves, focusing on dispersion, cut-off, resonance frequencies, and wave modes.

Introduction to Acoustics

Covers the science of sound, wave propagation, acoustic properties, and sound wave characteristics.

Sound Waves in Air: Basics and Applications

Covers the fundamentals of sound waves in air and their practical applications.

Electromagnetic Waves: Reflection, Refraction, and Interference

Explores electromagnetic waves, wave optics, interference, and diffraction phenomena in experimental physics II.

Electromagnetic Waves: Properties and Polarization