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:

• 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)
  
• 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.
  
• 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.
   
• For the design of Mask Layouts, we have developed IPKISS, a python function library which can generate very complex GDSII files with hierarchy directly from python scripts, thereby providing a very flexible way of making mask layouts. IPKISS is a follow-up of GDS_KEY
  (freely available)

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