Publisher's Synopsis
In this book algebraic methods are developed according to modern quantum theory and applied to the classical waveguide theory of active and passive graded-index waveguide structures with regular and/or random longitudinal inhomogeneities. An analogy is drawn between corresponding wave equations in classical aerodynamics or acoustics and Schrodinger's equation in quantum mechanics in order to arrive at an analytical solution to the problem.;Graded-index waveguides take place in many physical systems of practical interest (in optoelectronics or fibre optics, heterostructure lasers, graded-index lenses, gas lenses, laser propagation through atmosphere, underwater acoustic channels in oceans, radio waveguides in the ionosphere, acoustic channels in the earth). Full attention is paid to excitation of modes, beam propagation effects, mode coupling phenomena and control of the beam properties.
