Improved three-point formulas considering the interface conditions in the finite-difference analysis of step-index optical devices

A general relation, considering the interface conditions, between a sampled point and its nearby points is derived. Making use of the derived relation and the generalized Douglas scheme, the three point formulas in the finite-difference modeling of step-index optical devices are extended to fourth order accuracy irrespective of the existence of the step-index interfaces. With numerical analysis and numerical assessment, several frequently used formulas are investigated.