The presence of wavelength-scale holes in a microstructured optical fibres leads to challenges in the accurate modelling of their optical properties. A wide variety of techniques can be used, ranging from effective step-index fibre models to approaches that incorporate the full complexity of the fibre cross-section. Here these approaches will be reviewed and assessed in terms of their suitability for modelling optical properties of microstructured optical fibres such as their mode area, chromatic dispersion, form birefringence and confinement loss. Some of the issues associated with designing and modelling practical microstructured fibres are discussed.
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