# Mode coupling

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In the term **mode coupling**, as used in physics and electrical engineering, the word "mode" refers to [eigenmodes](/source/Eigenmode) of an idealized, "unperturbed", [linear system](/source/Linear_system). The [superposition principle](/source/Superposition_principle) says that eigenmodes of linear systems are independent of each other: it is possible to excite or to annihilate a specific mode without influencing any other mode; there is no [dissipation](/source/Dissipation). In most real systems, however, there is at least *some* [perturbation](/source/Perturbation_theory) that causes energy transfer between different modes. This perturbation, interpreted as an interaction between the modes, is what is called "mode coupling".

Important applications are:

- In [fiber optics](/source/Fiber_optics)[1][2]

- In [lasers](/source/Laser) (compare [mode-locking](/source/Mode-locking))[3]

- In [condensed-matter physics](/source/Condensed-matter_physics), [critical slowing down](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Critical_slowing_down&action=edit&redlink=1) can be described by a [Coupled mode theory](/source/Coupled_mode_theory).[4]

## See also

- [Nonlinear optics](/source/Nonlinear_optics)

- [Nonlinear acoustics](/source/Nonlinear_acoustics)

- [Equilibrium mode distribution](/source/Equilibrium_mode_distribution)

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Zhao_Liu_p=1609_1-0)** Zhao, Jianhui; Liu, Xiaoming (1 May 2006). "Fiber acousto-optic mode coupling between the higher-order modes with adjacent azimuthal numbers". *Optics Letters*. **31** (11). The Optical Society: 1609–1611. [Bibcode](/source/Bibcode_(identifier)):[2006OptL...31.1609Z](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2006OptL...31.1609Z). [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1364/ol.31.001609](https://doi.org/10.1364%2Fol.31.001609). [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [0146-9592](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0146-9592). [PMID](/source/PMID_(identifier)) [16688236](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16688236).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Thomas_Jovanovic_Becker_Marshall_p=325_2-0)** Thomas, Jens; Jovanovic, Nemanja; Becker, Ria G.; Marshall, Graham D.; Withford, Michael J.; Tünnermann, Andreas; Nolte, Stefan; Steel, M. J. (22 December 2010). ["Cladding mode coupling in highly localized fiber Bragg gratings: modal properties and transmission spectra"](https://doi.org/10.1364%2Foe.19.000325). *Optics Express*. **19** (1). The Optical Society: 325–341. [arXiv](/source/ArXiv_(identifier)):[1011.2691](https://arxiv.org/abs/1011.2691). [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1364/oe.19.000325](https://doi.org/10.1364%2Foe.19.000325). [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [1094-4087](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/1094-4087). [PMID](/source/PMID_(identifier)) [21263572](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21263572).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** See e.g. R. Paschotta, *Mode coupling*, in the online *Encyclopedia of Laser Physics and Technology*, [https://www.rp-photonics.com/mode_coupling.html](https://www.rp-photonics.com/mode_coupling.html)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** [Götze, Wolfgang](/source/Wolfgang_G%C3%B6tze) (2008-12-11). [*Complex Dynamics of Glass-Forming Liquids: A Mode-Coupling Theory*](https://academic.oup.com/book/10864). Oxford University Press. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199235346.001.0001](https://doi.org/10.1093%2Facprof%3Aoso%2F9780199235346.001.0001). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-19-171560-0](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-19-171560-0).

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