Full-vectorial mode calculations by finite difference method

Finite difference calculations of full-vectorial modes of optical waveguides are presented. This method has overcome the limitations of the semivectorial approximation and is able to calculate full-vectorial modes of arbitrary order for a given structure with an arbitrary refractive index profile. Numerical results show that the method is accurate. In addition, the leakage phenomenon of the higher modes of a rib waveguide is predicted by this method.