The Essence of Dielectric Waveguides is a comprehensive overview of the fundamental behavior of dielectric waveguides, essential to interpreting the numerical data results of electromagnetic waveguide problems. A wide range of waveguide coverage, from the familiar types (step-index optical fiber and planar) to the more striking (elliptical and triangular-core fibers), offers readers a rare in-depth look into the dielectric waveguide field. Readers will find an analysis of important applications in optical communications, such as optical fibers, fiber solitons, WDM shepherd pulses, ultra low-loss THz guides, photonic crystal guides, metamaterial guides, and plasmon sub-wavelength guides. Thorough mathematical treatment, in addition to experimental data and measurements, are provided throughout the chapters as support to the theories discussed. Researchers and engineers involved with optical communications, photonics and applied electromagnetics will find The Essence of Dielectric Waveguides a valuable reference.