MODE-COUPLING IN NONUNIFORM FIBERS - COMPARISON BETWEEN COUPLED-MODE THEORY AND FINITE-DIFFERENCE BEAM-PROPAGATION METHOD SIMULATIONS

Field evolution along longitudinally nonuniform finite-cladding fibers of circularly symmetric cross section is analyzed in terms of coupled modes. Local modes are used for abruptly tapered fibers, whereas linear-index fiber modes provide the expansion basis for Kerr-type nonlinear-index fibers. Convergence of the results suggests in both cases that only a finite number of bound modes is sufficient to describe the field adequately. A comparison with simulations given by a finite-difference beam-propagation method that was developed for circularly symmetric waveguides confirms the validity of this assumption.