On the accuracy of the WKB approximation in optical dielectric waveguides

Eigenvalues and field distributions for optical waveguides obtained from the WKB approximation have been compared with those found from geometrical optics and from more rigorous weakly guiding linearly polarized mode theories in the cases of the step-index and parabolic-index profiles. In all cases it is found that the zero-order WKB approximation yields very accurate eigenvalues provided care is taken in the choice of phase factors in the eigenvalue equation. Expressions are deduced for the required phase factors for guides of arbitrary index profile in both two- and three-dimensions, and physical interpretations are given in terms of ray optics. The first-order WKB field distributions are found to give good agreement with the mode fields everywhere except in the vicinity of the caustics.