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Computer simulation of photonic components is a crucial step in the design process, because fabricating a large number of prototypes is prohibitively expensive and time-consuming.
Our research efforts in modelling span a large class of photonic devices, like DFB and DBR laser diodes, gratings, resonant-cavity light-emitting diodes, vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers and photonic crystal devices.

For more information on some of these modelling tools, see the research topics on our photonics modelling research page.

In-house developed software:

  • IPKISS/PICAZZO
    For the design of photonic components and integrated circuits, we have developed the IPKISS/PICAZZO software framework, which can generate complex GDSII files with hierarchy directly from Python scripts, thereby providing a very flexible way of making mask layouts. (available under specific license for partner universities, partner research institutes and ePIXFab customers). While its primary use is in silicon photonics, IPKISS is very flexible and generic and can be used to generate any lithography mask.

  • CAMFR
    We perform research in the field of efficient eigenmode expansion methods, which led to the modelling tool CAMFR, capable of handling a large variety of optical devices and problems, like vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers and photonic crystal devices. (freely available)

  • CAPHE
    For the high-level modeling of optical circuits, we developed CAPHE. It can be used both in frequency and in time domain. It is used to calculate the steady-state characteristics of optical filters (resonant structures), and to model active (semiconductor optical amplifiers, microdisks...) and passive components (rings) in time-domain.

  • RODIS
    Transmission and reflection properties of 1D and 2D gratings are studied with RODIS, a tool based on rigorous coupled-wave analysis (RCWA)(freely available). This software is not longer maintained. The RCWA code is available in the latest CAMFR release.

  • CLADISS
    For the modelling of DFB and DBR lasers we developed a longitudinal, multi mode and dynamic model CLADISS. This model can be used to analyse static, small-signal and large-signal dynamic and noise behaviour.(commercially distributed by Photon Design)

  • For the design of resonant-cavity light-emitting diodes, we developed a model based on plane-wave expansion of a dipole source. This model can also deal with gratings incorporated in the cavity.

Other design tools

In addition to in-house developed software, we also have at our disposal a number of commercial packages.

  • OptiBPM (beam propation method)
  • VPI (virtual photonics)
  • Fimmwave (eigenmode expansion)
  • ASAP(modeling physical optics)
  • Ansys (thermal modelling).
  • FlowDesigner
  • Aspic
  • MaskEngineer
  • FieldDesigner
  • OptoDesigner
  • COMSOL