Beam propagation method

The beam propagation method (BPM) is an approximation technique for simulating the propagation of light in slowly varying optical waveguides. It is essentially the same as the so-called parabolic equation (PE) method in underwater acoustics. Both BPM and the PE were first introduced in the 1970s. When a wave propagates along a waveguide for a large distance (larger compared with the wavelength), rigorous numerical simulation is difficult. The BPM relies on approximate differential equations which are also called the one-way models. These one-way models involve only a first order derivative in the variable z (for the waveguide axis) and they can be solved as "initial" value problem. The "initial" value problem does not involve time, rather it is for the spatial variable z.[1]

The original BPM and PE were derived from the slowly varying envelope approximation and they are the so-called paraxial one-way models. Since then, a number of improved one-way models are introduced. They come from a one-way model involving a square root operator. They are obtained by applying rational approximations to the square root operator. After a one-way model is obtained, one still has to solve it by discretizing the variable z. However, it is possible to merge the two steps (rational approximation to the square root operator and discretization of z) into one step. Namely, one can find rational approximations to the so-called one-way propagator (the exponential of the square root operator) directly. The rational approximations are not trivial. Standard diagonal Padé approximants have trouble with the so-called evanescent modes. These evanescent modes should decay rapidly in z, but the diagonal Padé approximants will incorrectly propagate them as propagating modes along the waveguide. Modified rational approximants that can suppress the evanescent modes are now available. The accuracy of the BPM can be further improved, if you use the energy-conserving one-way model or the single-scatter one-way model.

Principles

BPM is generally formulated as a solution to Helmholtz equation in a time-harmonic case, [2] [3]

\( (\nabla^2 + k_0^2n^2)\psi = 0 \)

with the field written as,

\( E(x,y,z,t)=\psi(x,y)\exp(-j\omega t). \)

Now the spatial dependence of this field is written according to any one TE or TM polarizations

\( \psi(x,y) = A(x,y)\exp(+jk_o\nu y) , \)

with the envelope

A(x,y) following a slowly varying approximation,
\( \frac{\partial^2( A(x,y) )}{\partial y^2} = 0 \)

Now the solution when replaced into the Helmholtz equation follows,

\( \left[\frac{\partial^2 }{\partial x^2} + k_0^2(n^2 - \nu^2) \right]A(x,y) = \pm 2 jk_0 \nu \frac{\partial A_k(x,y)}{\partial y} \)

With the aim to calculate the field at all points of space for all times, we only need to compute the function A(x,y) for all space, and then we are able to reconstruct \( \psi(x,y) \) . Since the solution is for the time-harmonic Helmholtz equation, we only need to calculate it over one time period. We can visualize the fields along the propagation direction, or the cross section waveguide modes.
Numerical methods

There are both spatial domain methods, and frequency (spectral) domain methods are available for the numerical solution of the discretized master equation. Upon discretization into a grid, (using various centralized difference, Crank–Nicolson method, FFT-BPM etc.) and field values rearranged in a causal fashion, the field evolution is computed through iteration, along the propagation direction. The spatial domain method computes the field at the next step (in the propagation direction) by solving a linear equation, whereas the spectral domain methods use the powerful forward/inverse DFT algorithms. Spectral domain methods have the advantage of stability even in the presence of nonlinearity (from refractive index or medium properties), while spatial domain methods can possibly become numerically unstable.
Applications

BPM is a quick and easy method of solving for fields in integrated optical devices. It is typically used only in solving for intensity and modes within shaped (bent, tapered, terminated) waveguide structures, as opposed to scattering problems. These structures typically consist of isotropic optical materials, but the BPM has also been extended to be applicable to simulate the propagation of light in general anisotropic materials such as liquid crystals. This allows one to analyze e.g. the polarization rotation of light in anisotropic materials, the tunability of a directional coupler based on liquid crystals or the light diffraction in LCD pixels.

Limitations of BPM

The Beam Propagation Method relies on the slowly varying envelope approximation, and is inaccurate for the modelling of discretely or fastly varying structures. It is also inaccurate for the modelling of structures in which light propages in large range of angles and for devices with high refractive-index contrast, commonly found for instance in silicon photonics.

The BPM method can be used to model bi-directional propagation, but the reflections need to be implemented iteratively which can lead to convergence issues.

More rigorous alternatives include Eigenmode Expansion and FDTD.
Implementations

There are several simulation tools that implement BPM algorithms. Popular commercial tools have been developed by Optiwave Systems Inc. and RSoft Design.
See also

See and listen to Lecture 16 on BPM
Computational electromagnetics
Finite-difference time-domain method
Eigenmode expansion
Finite element method
Maxwell's equations
Method of Lines
Light
Photon
EM Lab Poster on the Beam Propagation Method

References

Clifford R. Pollock, Michal. Lipson (2003), Integrated Photonics, Springer, ISBN 978-1-4020-7635-0
Okamoto K. 2000 Fundamentals of Optical Waveguides (San Diego, CA: Academic)
EE290F: BPM course slides, Devang Parekh, University of Berkeley, CA

Physics Encyclopedia