Finite element analysis of waveguides and cavities-a review

A review of finite-element methods (FEMs) of analyzing uniform waveguides used in microwaves and optics, with emphasis on the latter, is given. The main concern is with modal analysis of the waveguides, such as finding the few dominant modes of any prescribed waveguide structure. Spurious modes are considered, with two recent schemes for their avoidance. Attention is also given to the commonly ignored complex modes. Modal analysis of the same optical waveguides, but including nonlinear material, is considered. Z-stepping algorithms are referred to for their importance in dealing with nonlinear waveguides, and with slowly varying, long, guiding structures.>