This thesis develops an efficient and effective method for designing and analyzing the performance of various integrated optical waveguide structures using the beam propagation method of analysis. Modifications in the physical layout of an optical device through changes in coupling connection design, splitting angles and waveguide dimensions may have significant effects on device performance. The beam propagation method is initially developed for a symmetric Mach-Zehnder interferometer for baseline validation of the accuracy and applicability of the propagation scheme. A major validation is achieved through modeling an asymmetric device designed and built by the Naval Research Laboratory. The validated simulation model is used to analyze the performance and design characteristics of complex parallel configurations of interferometers. The beam propagation method allows quantitative analysis of the performance of these integrated optical devices. The propagation model developed implements a new global propagator scheme that substantially reduces computational requirements and introduces a design methodology that ensures compatibility between the discrete implementation and the physical structure. Also identified are areas in which continued research can provide a complete modeling system that may be implemented as a stand-alone design and analysis.
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