Optimization of optical film waveguides

Theoretical investigations were made of the possibility of optimization of the effective thickness, of the optical confinement factor Γ₁, and of the birefringence of a planar dielectric waveguide as a function of the waveguide parameter V and the waveguide asymmetry. For a given value of V it is possible to ensure higher values of Γ₁, for an asymmetric waveguide than for a symmetric one. An approximate expression is proposed for the factor Γ₁, of an asymmetric waveguide directly in terms of its thickness and the refractive indices of the layers.