Dielectric bypath waveguide mode order converter

In a dielectric branching waveguide having a very narrow dividing angle, mode separation and mode conversion take place among the same orthogonal modes. Unlike the conventional optical IC mode order converter, the dielectric bypath waveguide mode order converter does not require precision machinery technique and yet it is capable of converting modes of all numbers. This paper describes properties of modes propagating on a dielectric branching waveguide and presents a design method of a mode order converter. The mode order conversion characteristics of an experimental mode order converter are presented and the possible mode order conversion is discussed.