Direct computation of higher-order propagation modes using the imaginary-distance beam propagation method

In this paper we present an extension to the standard method of eigenmode-extraction using the imaginary-distance beam propagation method. We show that it is possible to directly extract higher-order propagation modes of arbitrary shaped waveguide structures by propagating the field along the imaginary axis when the parameters are chosen in an appropriate manner. This method requires an assumption of the propagation constant of the eigenmode. In many cases this value can be determined using fast approximate techniques like the effective index method. Additionally, the approximate mode shape may be introduced as a starting condition and can further accelerate the extraction of the eigenmode. The overall number of propagation steps needed to extract multiple eigenmodes is then significantly smaller than in the case when extracting the modes sequentially with the former method.