Beam propagation method in rectangular structures with a high step index

In this paper a simple and effective method to analyze rectangular media with a high step of the refractive index is shown. Comparison of the method with a classical Beam Propagation Method and with analytical solutions for the planar waveguides in the (1+1)dimensional case are presented. There is also shown an influence of a high step of refractive index in (2+1)dimensional structures on the field distribution of guided beams as well as on the far field diffraction. The presented results show that the proposed method is very exact and relatively fast in comparison with other methods.