Single-mode condition for silicon rib waveguides

The geometrical conditions required for single-mode propagation in large cross-section silicon-on-insulator (SOI) waveguides were investigated using the beam propagation method (BPM). The cases of both vertical-walled and sloping-walled (trapezoidal) rib structures were considered. In the trapezoidal case some approximate methods were compared with the simulated results. Expressions for the single-mode condition for both types of waveguide were defined.