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PICWave

The Laser Diode, SOA, and Photonic Integrated Circuit (PIC) Simulator

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Introduction Features Applications
PICWave

Circuit Capabilities

Creating and Importing PICWave Circuit Capabilities

The simulation of a photonic circuit includes two stages:

  1. Creating models of the individual circuit components
  2. Importing the individual component models into a standard circuit model format, connecting the components together and simulating the resulting circuit.

PICWave is primarily focussed on Stage 2, but also has the capability of modelling many components itself; in particular it has an extensive modelling capability of semiconductor gain sections (SOAs).

PICWave has a building block system allowing you to create your own libraries of pre-made components, or use design kits provided by a third party; we currently supply InP-based design kit libraries for Smart Photonics and FhG Heinrich Hertz Institut fabs. Others coming soon. Please ask.

The table below describes PICWave's capabilities in terms of circuit, component and material modelling, and its reliance on external models (such as FIMMPROP and Harold).

Component Comments Base Module Active Module Component Model Material Model

Passive Waveguides

PICWave Mode Solver

See (1)

DBR Gratings

Low delta-n gratings

PICWave Kappa Calculator

See (1)

Other Passive Components

Anything with an S-matrix (with optional wavelength dependence)

FIMMPROPor any EM solver

See (1)

Semiconductor Optical Amplifiers (SOAs)

Building block for any laser diode

PICWave

Harold,gain tableor built-in examples(2)

Modulators / QCSE

Electro-refractive and absorptive

Harold

Haroldor lab data

Modulators / Silicon

Bulk free-carrier interactions

External model or lab data

Other modulators

Simple modulator, electro-refractive and absorptive modulators

External model or lab data

Photodiodes

Waveguide QW photodiode

PICWave

Haroldor gain table

Electric R, L, C

PICWave

N/A

Non-linear waveguides including periodic

Model effects due to χ(2) nonlinearities in dielectric media, including SHG in periodically poled crystalline materials

PICWave

Lab datafor χ(3)

1 Dispersion data for common materials supplied – Si, SiGe, SiO2, GaAs, AlGaAs, InGaAsP, InGaAlAs, LiNbO3, BCB, Al, Au, Ag, Ni, W.

2 Examples relying on material/gain data from Harold are supplied for typical InGaAsP, InGaAlAs and AlGaAs epi’s.

3 Component dynamics, e.g. escape time effects, available only with Active Module.