Limitations on power-transfer efficiency in three-guide optical couplers

The eigenvalue equations for a slab three-guide coupler were solved and the power-transfer efficiency was calculated when the coupler is used as 1) a power divider and 2) to transfer power from one outside guide to another. In the first case, two modes take part in the power transfer, and unless the guides are very tightly coupled, periodic beats with high power transfer are obtained at multiples of the coupling length as in a two-guide coupler. In the second case, three modes take part in the power transfer, and periodic beats and high power-transfer efficiency can only be obtained if the propagation velocities of the three modes are related to each other in a simple way. This condition will occur only if the guides of a three-guide coupler made up of identical guides are much more loosely coupled than guides generally used in a two-guide coupler.