The FDTD (Finite-DifferenceTime-Domain) modeling method has gained popularity among photonic researchers as the numerical solver of choice solving both electric and magnetic fields in temporal and spatial domain using the full vector differential form of Maxwell’s coupled curl equations.
Complementing the functionality of the FDTD numerical method is OptiFDTD, a powerful, highly integrated software application for computer-aided design and simulation of advanced passive and non-linear photonic components. Researchers can design ‘real world’ type simulations in one complete simulation environment.
OptiFDTD applications include: photonic integrated circuits, photonic band gap devices, optical micro-ring resonators, nano-layout, photonic surface plasmon, optical grating based layouts, diffractive micro-optics elements, nonlinear waveguides, specialized materials and electromagnetic phenomena.
One of the many votes of confidence in OptiFDTD comes from Dr. Peter Catrysse of Stanford University Department of Electrical Engineering. “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 are impressed with Optiwave’s level of support and service.
Since its commercial availability in 2001, OptiFDTD has grown into a complete photonic design environment, including a number of advanced post-processing tools. “Its amazing to see how OptiFDTD has matured over the years,” notes Dr. Jiazong Zhang, Product Manger. “Now that we have OptiFDTD available in a ‘true 64-bit’ environment, users are no longer limited by traditional memory barriers, allowing for large scale mesh simulations, effectively reaching ‘real world’ specifications.”
Included with OptiFDTD:
An extensive material library: Lossless and lossy, isotropic/anisotropic, multiple resonance dispersive materials, Drude/Lorentz-Drude, Kerr effects, Raman effects, Enable noble metal and surface plasmon.
PWE Band Solver included at no additional charge.
The following improvements have been added to the latest version of OptiFDTD: Total field and scattering field (TF/SF) excitation algorithm, designed to make a separation of total field and scattering field with input wave excited to one desired direction. Radar Cross Section (RCS) detection is feasible with this new TF/SF excitation.
|
