Propagating modes of a metal-clad-dielectric-slab waveguide for integrated optics

Propagating modes of a dielectric-slab waveguide consisting of a dielectric core and metal clads are analyzed numerically by using a simplified model. The behavior of modes is graphically shown and their peculiarities due to dielectric properties of metal are described. It is shown that the TE
0
mode has the smallest attenuation constant when the wavelength is sufficiently short and that the TM
0
mode changes continuously to the TEM mode of a parallel-plate waveguide in the submillimeter region, but it has generally a very high attenuation at an optical wavelength.