A UNIFIED APPROACH FOR THE COUPLED-MODE ANALYSIS OF NONLINEAR-OPTICAL COUPLERS

A unified approach for the coupled-mode analysis of nonlinear optical couplers is proposed. This approach is basically an extension of the work of [17] to include optical nonlinearity. After the nonlinear coupled-mode theory is established, various basis functions are used as trial fields to derive coupled-mode equations. It is found that two published coupled-mode theories can in fact be deduced from the proposed one with individual linear or nonlinear waveguide modes serving as trial fields, thus making the coupled-mode equations from variational principle and reciprocity theorem equivalent. Coupled-mode equations based on system modes are also presented. Furthermore, analytical and/or numerical methods for solving coupled-mode equations are included. More research and discussion can be conducted based on the knowledge addressed in this paper.