Preface

SimWorks Finite Difference Solutions

The Challenge in Microscale Optoelectronics

Microscale Optoelectronics is a discipline of the interaction between optics and electronics at the micro/nano-level, the core of which is to determine the electromagnetic wave phenomena and radiation characteristics near micro-nano structure.

Maxwell's equations can provide strict analytical solutions to simple problems while the majority of the complex problems can only be solved approximately by the numerical methods. With the continuous development of optoelectronics and nanotechnology, the scales of micro-nano devices are getting smaller, the geometries are getting more complicated, and the materials are getting more intricate. Therefore, it becomes a huge challenge to obtain a more accurate solution to the real world problem in micro/nano-optoelectronic fields.

With the significant progress of high-performing computing technology, the computational electromagnetics is developed rapidly to allow the increasing capabilities to accurately resolve Maxwell's equations on large scales. Relying on the solid foundation of electromagnetic simulations, SimWorks launched SimWorks Finite Difference Solutions, which uses an intuitive operation interface to create virtual experiments, reproduce complex micro-nano optoelectronic phenomena, predict unknown micro-nano-optoelectronic behaviors, and analyze and optimize complex micro-nano structures in order to help innovate and design micro/nano optoelectronic systems.

Compared with the analytical method, the numerical method deals with complex electromagnetism problems with a more general program, significantly reducing the research difficulties, and greatly promoting the research and development of Microscale Optoelectronics. So SimWorks Finite Difference Solutions is a powerful tool for the optoelectronic design community.

Features of SimWorks Finite Difference Solutions

SimWorks Finite Difference Solutions is a software platform that integrates algorithms for solving passive optoelectronic problems. It supports the following algorithms:

• Finite Difference Time Domain (FDTD): This algorithm is based on Maxwell's equations in the time domain, which can solve problems in most bands (ultraviolet, visible, infrared, terahertz, and microwave), complex structures (micro-nano-size or sub-wavelength structures), and complex material models;
• Finite Difference Frequency Domain (FDFD): This algorithm, similar to FDTD, is a frequency-domain form based on Maxwell's equations finite difference, which is often used to solve the waveguide S-parameters, resonant cavity, and scattering characteristics of anisotropic materials;
• Finite Difference Eigenmode (FDE): This algorithm based on finite difference mesh accurately calculates the electromagnetic vector mode of each lattice point. It is an indispensable tool to solve the problems of large-scale integrated planar optical waveguides, long-distance transmission devices, and various new optical fibers.

SimWorks Finite Difference Solutions is a high-performance software platform, which supports:

• All algorithms that can be integrated in the same development environment provide visual 3D CAD modeling, which is convenient for users to quickly get familiar with the software and thus the acceleration of the modeling and related research;
• Script file editor, with the built-in complete function library, supports matrix operations. The user-defined functions are allowed, greatly expanding the software's ability to analyze and deal with the customized problems;
• Analysis group easily enables the automated post-processing process of the complex data;
• Parameter sweep and multi-parameter optimization are helpful for in-depth research and design optimization;
• Various parallel computing technologies such as OpenMP, CUDA, MPI, cloud computing, and support for interaction with third-party software greatly improve the design efficiency of large-scale devices.
• Open settings such as import sources, customized structure groups or analysis groups, import material data, and user-defined functions can meet the diverse needs of different users.

SimWorks Finite Difference Solutions is a software platform with a wide range of applications. The simulation areas supported by the software include, but are not limited to:

• Research frontiers in the field of Microscale Optoelectronics, such as silicon-based optoelectronic devices (gratings, resonators, and beam splitters/couplers), and optical waveguides (or fibers);
• Light-matter interactions, such as surface plasmons, metamaterials, photonic crystals, and new two-dimensional materials (such as graphene);
• Far field or radiation, such as optical microantennas, surface detection, LED/OLED, and scattering;
• Research on integrated optics such as lasers and optical switches;
• Classical diffractive optics problems;
• Microwave problems represented by transmission lines;
• Research represented by solar cells (optical simulation part).

SimWorks Finite Difference Solutions is an open software platform that supports co-simulation:

• The co-simulation is completed by SimWorks and Semiconductor Carriers Solution (a software platform developed by the Company to solve active optoelectronic problems, which is coming soon);
• Co-simulation with other software to enable data exchange through common data formats.

In short, the SimWorks Finite Difference Solutions is a micro-nano optoelectronic simulation design platform, featuring high performance, high efficiency, and wide application range. The SimWorks Finite Difference Solutions is indispensable from the R&D of a single device to the design of an integrated system, and from a lab sample to the industrial product.

Product Introduction

If some of the terms mentioned above are new to you, or if you are interested in the product details and simulation of the software, please read the Introduction.

How to Use this Manual

User Instruction

The user instruction covers the entire content of the software manual, and makes necessary supplementary explanations for the new functions of the software, and advanced parameter settings.

The document consists of five parts:

• Part One Graphical User Interface

  • Graphical user interface (GUI): introduction to the user interface and the basic operations of the software.

• Part Two Modeling

  • Material: the built-in material library.
  • Structure: creating structures and structure groups;

• Part Three Simulation

  • Solver: the solver's settings;
  • Source: built-in source and imported source;
  • Monitor: monitor of the software;
  • Simulation: simulation control panel;
  • Mode expansion : setting mode expansion in ports and FDFP Monitor.

• Part Four Advanced Features

  • User setting: user-defined mesh and user-defined functions.
  • Resources : computing resources in the software;
  • Post-processing: post-processing and analysis group for data;
  • Optimizations and sweeps: settings of optimization and sweep in the software;

• Part Five Appendix

  • Appendix: summary information about optimization algorithms, physical quantities and units, and script functions.

What We Do Not Provide

Although software is irreplaceable for the design and analysis of micro-nano optoelectronic devices, the documentation is not intended to be a textbook on device design, physical background, and methodology.

Users of SimWorks Finite Difference Solutions can receive full technical support for software use, excluding the guidance on basic device design principles.

In addition, SimWorks is not a device processing manufacturer, so the software does not judge or limit whether the design parameters of the device can meet existing industrial processing standards.

If you are a green hand in the design of micro-nano optoelectronic devices, please study relevant books and articles.

Learn More

Product Documentation Types

In addition, it is necessary to understand various documents of the product, including:

• User instruction: technical manuals for learning software, such as this manual;
• Algorithm background: the background knowledge of the software, such as FDTD;
• Technical sharing: solutions to some problems, such as Correcting Field Amplitudes for High-Q Cavities;
• Device Application: typical cases such as Wire Grid Polarizer;
• Others.

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Feel free to register and use our software!
We are looking forward to your email and wish you a happy communication with our development engineers!

For more information, please refer to

• Website:
  www.simworks.net
• Email:
  info@simworks.net