Your source of photonics CAD tools

PICWave

A photonic IC, laser diode and SOA simulator

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 PICWave Circuit Model Component Model Material Model
Base
Module
only
With
Active Module
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)
+ + FIMMPROP
or any EM solver
See (1)
Semiconductor Optical Amplifiers (SOAs) Building block for any laser diode   + PICWave Harold,
gain table
or built-in examples(2)
Modulators / QCSE Electro-refractive and absorptive   + Harold Harold
or lab data
Modulators / Silicon Bulk free-carrier interactions +(2) + External model or lab data  
Other modulators Simple modulator, electro-refractive and absorptive modulators +(2) + External model or lab data  
Photodiodes Waveguide QW photodiode +(2) + PICWave Harold
or 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 data
for 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.