Design of a slab waveguide using a graded index profile and a left hand material

Abstract In the present paper, we consider a pulse propagation in a slab waveguide structure having three layers. The guiding layer is assumed to have a linearly graded-index profile. Maxwell's equations are solved in the three layers and both electric and magnetic fields are written in terms of the asymmetry measure ( a ), the generalized frequency ( V ) and the generalized guide index ( b ). The dispersion properties are investigated for three waveguide arrangements: the first one has a left-handed material (LHM) cladding, the second one has a LHM substrate layer and the third has both surroundings as LHMs. The results show the proposed waveguide exhibits normal dispersion property in which b increases as V increases.