Optiwave

Features

NEW VERSION OPTIFDTD 8.1

The latest version of OptiFDTD maximizes the capabilities of 64-bit operating systems, providing:

• Access to large amounts of memory not possible with 32-bit operating systems
• Scalability for multicore processors, and multiprocessor motherboards
• Faster overall performance and rendering

 

New in OptiFDTD 8.1 - 3D Layout Designer The OptiFDTD design experience is now enhanced with a full three-dimensional layout designer. View and rotate your structures in a versatile 3D enviornment. Users no longer have to rely on the analysis of two-dimensional cross-sections to deduct spatial shape.

 

New in OptiFDTD 8.1 - Anisotropic 3D Mode Solver
This advanced mode solver added to OptiFDTD will enable users to more accurately simulate and analyze structures built with high contrast materials.

Heating Absorption Module
Metallic and lossy materials in semiconductor devices or solar cells absorb part of the wave energy and convert it to heat. The advanced heating absorption module in OptiFDTD 8.0 supports calculations of the heating field distribution and heating absorption rate estimation.

Total Field Scattering Field (TF/SF)
OptiFDTD 8.0 supports simulations of TF/SF phenomenon and full-angle Radar Cross-Section (RCS) analysis in 2D space.

Lorentz-Drude Model for Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR)
Optiwave is the exclusive provider of the most reliable simulation algorithm used to simulate the charateristics of surface plasmon and plasma materials, including nano-metallic structures.

Surface plasmons have the unique capacity to confine light to very small dimensions which has created a new research trend in the photonics and bio-photonics industry.

Scattering Form Nano Particles A three-dimensional simulation of a 39nm spherical nano-particle. Illustrated to the left is a dielectric and gold material with a refractive index of 1.47. The excitation is a Y-polarized plane wave propagating in the Z direction. Figure illustrates y-z and x-y plane field patterns.

 

Initial Phase of the Plane Input Wave
A new feature enabling users to select the initial phase offset of a launched input wave. A practical application when analyzing combined signals from multiple input planes.

Comprehensive Feature Set

Advanced Boundary Conditions

OptiFDTD includes an advanced boundary condition simulation feature which optimizes memory usage and provides more accurate results. Using the Uniaxial Perfectly Matched Layer (UPML) method to calculate the absorbing boundary condition in comparison with conventional PML. The periodic boundary condition, Perfect Electric Conductor (PEC) and Perfect Magnetic Conductor (PMC) boundary conditions can be used with UPML to realize more advanced simulations for periodic and symmetric layouts.

Robust Photonic Crystal Editor

Included with OptiFDTD is a robust photonic crystal editor allowing users to edit any lattice structure and periodic layout with a number of template shapes (i.e. Atom Waveguides). Editing features have also been improved, including user-defined shape creation and structure rotation.

Simulation Automation through Scripting
A powerful feature empowers users with full simulation engine automation through Visual Basic scripting.Completely integrated with the graphical user interface, the flexible scripting tools allow for a streamlined automation process:

• Quickly and easily convert any layout design or its parts into the script.
• Create custom libraries of scripts that represent particular components, which can be added to any new layout design.
• Easily create the most complex design without manual graphical user interface operations.
• Optimize your simulation with comprehensive post-processing tools.

FDTD Band solver
A fully integrated 2D band solver is based on the FDTD method with Bloch’s periodic boundary condition, and can generate the band diagram based on the reduced simulation domain of single or multiple cells from a square or hexagonal lattice.

Waveguide thickness tapering options
Waveguides can now be tapered in thickness in addition to width. Channel waveguides can be tapered linearly, and fibers can be tapered linearly and proportionately. With 3D fiber profiles, the width of the 2D waveguide in the x-z plane is also applied to the height, in order to model fiber tapering. As the dimensions change in y, the position of the center line of the fiber in 3D space is maintained.

Post Data Analysis
OptiFDTD has the strongest post-data analysis tools available. Options include, Discrete Fourier Transform Field Distribution in Domain, Poynting Vector in Domain, Polarized Power calculation, and Overlap Integral calculation.

PWE band solver
A new band solver based on plane wave expansion (PWE) method will enable customers to analyze properties of photonic crystal materials and devices in all three dimensions.

"We are using OptiFDTD to perform 2D and 3D simulations of CMOS image sensor pixels to evaluate their optical efficiency. OptiFDTD is a very versatile simulation tool and we have been very impressed with the technical support we have received from Optiwave."
Dr. Peter Catrysse
Dept. of Electrical Engineering, Stanford University