A new equivalent network method for analyzing discontinuity properties of open dielectric waveguides

A novel network approach is proposed for analyzing interacting discontinuities on open planar dielectric waveguides by accurately taking account of both surface modes and waves with continuous spectra. In this approach, a continuum of the radiation wave is recomposed into a set of the newly defined spectral composite modes, each of which carries a finite magnitude of radiation power. These new modes, in conjunction with surface modes, construct the complete orthonormal set for expressing an arbitrary local field on a dielectric slab waveguide. This leads to an equivalent network approach effective for solving discontinuity problems, even on an open waveguide using the conventional method for closed-waveguide problems. A number of numerical results are shown to demonstrate the usefulness of the proposed approach.>