Microwave Approach to Optical Waveguides

This paper proposes an educational approach to optical waveguides from the viewpoint of a microwave theorist. The substance of the text is based on the published literature, including especially some papers by the present author. Emphasis is laid on the coupled-mode theories early developed in microwave science, which can be profitably borrowed, or extended in a natural way, in structuring an educational scheme for understanding optical waveguides in general, and optical fibers in particular.