How to Use the Optical Mode Solver from Keysight Photonic Designer

In this video, Umar, the Product Manager for Keysight Photonic Design Automation (EPDA), provides a comprehensive overview of the optical finite difference eigenmode (OFDE) solver available within Keysight Photonic Designer. The mode solver is a powerful 2D cross-sectional tool designed to calculate optical modes for waveguides and directional couplers, enabling engineers to analyze and optimize photonic designs.

The demonstration begins with an introduction to the optical finite difference eigenmode mode (OFDE) solver Graphical user interface (GUI), which can be launched from the main Advanced Design System (ADS) window after installing a template PDK. The interface allows users to select between waveguides and directional couplers, calculate optical modes (such as TE and TM), and visualize effective indices for those modes. Umar walks through an example using a silicon waveguide with a core width of 450 nm, thickness of 220 nm, and a wavelength of 1550 nm, showcasing how to configure materials, set mesh accuracy, and calculate eigenmodes for silicon photonics waveguides.

A key highlight of the video is the integration of a Python API for advanced automation. Umar demonstrates how to control the mode solver programmatically, eliminating the need to interact with the Photonic designer mode solver GUI from within the ADS software. By running Python scripts from the ADS Python console, users can automate simulations, set material properties, define waveguide parameters, and sweep dimensions like waveguide width. The example illustrates a simulation where the waveguide width is varied from 200 nm to 1200 nm, showing how higher-order TE and TM modes are excited as the waveguide width increases.

Graphs of effective indices versus waveguide width and visualizations of the mode fields are presented, highlighting the solver's capabilities to analyze mode confinement and cut-off conditions. Engineers can leverage these insights for precise photonic circuit design and optimization.

This video is a must-watch for engineers seeking to streamline their workflow using Keysight Photonic Designer's mode solver, whether through its intuitive GUI or its powerful Python scripting capabilities. Discover how this tool can enhance your photonic design process with accurate optical mode analysis and visualization.

Keywords: Keysight Photonic Designer, optical finite difference mode solver, photonic design automation, waveguide modes, Python API, mode analysis, TE modes, TM modes, photonic simulation, eigenmodes, directional coupler, photonic circuit design.