Bloch Wave Analysis of Dispersion and Pulse Propagation in Pure Distributed Feedback Structures

The excitation and behaviour of monochromatic and pulsed optical Bloch waves in pure distributed feed-back structures are discussed and analysed. The Bloch wave approach, based on a detailed knowledge of the natural optical modes of the periodic structure, is complementary to the more commonly used coupled-wave approach. The inter-relationship between dispersion, field micro-structure and group velocity is discussed, and the effects of group-velocity and higher-order dispersion on pulse propagation treated. Questions about the usefulness of DFB structures for dispersion correction and soliton formation are addressed.