Planar Waveguides

Planar waveguides are structures that direct light along a flat, thin layer, similar to how a highway guides vehicles. They consist of a core layer where light travels, sandwiched between two cladding layers with slightly different properties. The difference in materials keeps the light confined within the core through total internal reflection, allowing it to move with minimal loss. These waveguides are essential in optical communications, sensor technology, and integrated optics, enabling precise control and transmission of light signals over short to moderate distances in compact, flat configurations.