FemSIM

Technical Training:
Program Usage and Design Examples
 Outline
• Introduction
• Design Process
• Mode Basics
• FemSIM Overview

• Setting Simulation Parameters

• Display and Output
• Advanced Topics
• Examples

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 The RSoft Toolbox

• The RSoft tools are part of an optics/photonics toolbox. Users can build
their own toolbox and purchase only the tools they need.

• Utilities combine the strengths of one or more tools:

– LED Utility: FullWAVE
– Carrier Effects (Multi-Physics): combines LaserMOD and
a device tool (say BeamPROP).
– etc.

• The tools can work standalone

or be used together.

• Interfaces with CODE V and LightTools.

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 RSoft Software Design Flow

RSoft Simulation Post-

CAD Process

• Draw geometry • Set desired output • View & interpret results

• Set material parameters • Set initial condition • Perform post-processing
• Define variables • Set algorithm options • Repeat!
• Run simulation

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 Optical Waveguides Types

• Planar Waveguides, Slab Waveguides: • Multilayer Waveguides

• Fiber Waveguides: • Diffused Waveguides:

• Channel Waveguides: • Photonic Crystal Waveguides:

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 What is a Mode?

• An optical mode is a solution of Maxwell's equations that satisfies the

boundary conditions.

• Its spatial distribution does not change with propagation

Ex Ey

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 Waveguide Mode Properties

• Modes are orthogonal solutions to the wave equation.

• Light within one mode is coherent (for identical polarization).

• Light from different modes does not interfere (orthogonality)

• Modes have a shape (eigenfunction) and

an effective index (eigenvalue).

• The optical power of a linear superposition

of modes is equal to the sum of the
optical power energy in the individual modes

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 FemSIM

• FemSIM: Finite Element Method (FEM) based Mode Solver used to compute
transverse and cavity modes.
– Transverse modes are 1D/2D electromagnetic field patterns specific to a device that
do not change shape as the field propagates along the device.
– Cavity modes are 2D/3D electromagnetic field patterns specific to a cavity that
resonate in time.

• Commonly used to compute input fields for BeamPROP or FullWAVE.

• Can address a wide array of applications including:

– Standard and Specialty Fibers
– Arbitrary Waveguide Design
– Index Guided and Aircore PCF (Photonic Crystal Fibers)
– Cavity Mode calculations
– Dispersion Calculations

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 FEM Algorithm

– FemSIM is a finite element (FEM) tool ideal for

studying the supported modes in a wide variety
of photonic structures including integrated and
fiber-optic waveguide devices and circuits

– Eigenmode Equation:

– Boundary Condition:

– FEM Equation:

– FemSIM has an advanced meshing scheme for improved accuracy and

speed.

– FemSIM employs a full-vector implementation for generalized high index

contrast and lossy modes for arbitrary devices.

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 Outline

• Introduction
• Simulation Parameters
• Display and Output
• Examples

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 FemSIM Simulation Dialog

• The FemSIM simulation dialog can be opened by clicking the ‘green-light’

button in left toolbar of the RSoft CAD.

• This dialog controls the main FemSIM simulation parameters.

• Clicking OK in this dialog starts the

FemSIM simulation.

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 Simulation Dimensions

• 3D Simulations:
– 2D transverse modes of 3D structures
– 2D radially-symmetric cavity modes of 3D
radially-symmetric structures

• 2D Simulations:
– 1D transverse modes of 2D structures (slabs)

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 Spatial Domain & Grid Sizes

• The spatial domain sets the part of the structure that will be simulated. All areas
where the EM field is important must be included.
– The FemSIM mode calculation is always performed at a constant Z position (0 by default).
– The spatial domain is displayed as a purple box in the RSoft CAD.

• The Grid Sizes (Δx and Δy) control how the refractive index is discretized.

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 Advanced Mesh Options

• The Advanced Mesh Options can be

accessed by clicking Mesh Options in
the FemSIM simulation dialog.

• Non-Uniform Grid:
– Grid Grading at Interfaces: This option automatically varies the grid from one grid
size near material interfaces to another grid size in bulk regions.
– Interface Alignment: This option aligns grid elements with material interfaces.

• Subdivide Mesh Options: In order to better conform to the

structure geometry, FemSIM can use an irregular mesh
composed of triangular elements.

• Symmetry Options: These options use symmetric boundary conditions at

X=0 and/or Y=0 and can save simulation time and help find modes of a
specific polarization.

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 Choosing Spatial Domain & Grid Sizes

• The spatial domain must be large enough to include any field that is
‘important’ to the simulation. This includes evanescent fields!

• Smaller grids improve accuracy

• Simulation time/memory requirements scale directly with the number

of grid points used.

• FemSIM can use an irregular triangular

mesh: each grid element can be subdivided
into multiple triangles. This option should
always be enabled for non-rectangular
structures that are not defined via
user-profiles.

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 Choosing Spatial Domain & Grid Sizes

• With the exception of structures that have fine features, general results
for your structure can often be obtained with remarkably coarse grids.

• You can save time when doing initial exploratory studies by not worrying
too much about accuracy.

• You have not completed your

design project until you have
confirmed the convergence of
your results at a higher
grid resolution.

• An easy way to scan over grid size is

to set grid size(s) via an expression with
a form like 0.5/2^N and then scan over N.

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 Boundary Conditions: PML

• The boundary conditions control how the EM field is truncated at the edges of
the simulation domain. By default, a 0-width PML is used.
– PML has a thickness and is ‘added’ to the
edge of the simulation domain.
– PML is a highly lossy material that is designed
to absorb incident light without reflection back
into the simulation domain

• For Guided Modes: PML should be used when

the field does not go to 0 at the edge of the
simulation domain. If using these modes as input
to another RSoft tool, it is preferred to have the field go to 0 at the domain edge.

• For Leaky Modes: PML should always be used, and the Allow Leaky Modes
option should also be enabled.

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 Choosing Boundary Conditions

• PML should be used differently for guided and leaky mode calculations.

• The width of the PML determines how accurate the boundary conditions
will perform. The more points that are taken in the PML, the less
reflection from the PML.

• A good rule of thumb is to start with at least 10 grid points into the PML
region.

• Symmetric/Antisymmetric boundary conditions are invaluable, but

should be used carefully.

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 Polarization

• FemSIM is inherently full-vector.

• In 2D (1D modes), Maxwell’s equations are separable and the

polarization control in the FemSIM Simulation Parameters dialog can
be used.

• In 3D, all six components are always simulated and modes for all
polarizations are found together.

• For symmetric structures, the Symmetry options can be used to solve

for a single polarization. See the FemSIM manual for further details.

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 Mode Options

• The Mode Options dialog controls these settings:

– Starting Neff values: Effective index value
where to start looking for modes

– # Modes to Find, # Modes to Output,

and Mode Sorting

– Neff Tolerance and Max Iterations

– Seeding options for MOST scans.

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 Advanced Options

• The Advanced Options dialog controls these settings:

– Formulation, FEM Element Order

– Simulated Bend Options

– Single Precision

– Allow Leaky Modes

– Solve for Cavity Modes

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 Input Overview

• There is no input for FemSIM!

• The wavelength can be set in the Global Settings [in μm].

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 Scripting

• Aside: the RSoft simulators can be run at the command prompt with complete
functionality. FemSIM can be run using this syntax:

femsim design.ind prefix=mysim symbol1=value1 wait=0

• Symbols set in the command will override any symbols within the file.

• The wait=0 symbol closes the simulation window to return control to the OS.

• The –min and –hide options can be used to minimize or hide the simulation
window.

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 Outline

• Introduction
• Simulation Parameters
• Display and Output
• Examples

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 Mode Output

• FemSIM saves both the field profile

and effective indices for each mode
found.

• After the simulation is complete, the

modes will be displayed, they can be
cycled through using the arrow buttons
in the top toolbar.

• The field component (Ex, Hy etc.) can be

selected.

• The simulation mesh can also be

displayed.

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 Mode Related Measurements

• Uses same pathway monitors

as BeamPROP

• Choose the monitor type

– Overlap
– Confinement Factor (via
partial power monitor)
– Effective index
– Field spot size
– 1/e width and 1/e height
– Mode area

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 Additional Outputs and Output Options

• The Output Options dialog controls:

– Mode Output Format

– Plotting Points

• Additional outputs include:

– H field
– Poynting Vector
– Mesh File

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 Output Files

• Output file(s) are named by using the Output Prefix set in the
FemSIM Simulation Parameters dialog.

• Most outputs consist of two files:

– Raw data file.
– WinPLOT command file, for displaying
data in WinPLOT, RSoft’s plotting program.
– Both files are in ASCII format.

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 Outline

• Introduction
• Simulation Parameters
• Display and Output
• Examples

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 FemSIM Design Process

• Draw geometry in the RSoft CAD Environment

• Assign Material Properties
• Define Optical Source
• Define Desired Measurements
• Set Algorithm/Model Parameters
• Run Simulation
• View/Interpret Results

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 Design Case 1: Modes of SMF Fiber

• Single Mode: SMF28

Ncl=1.466,
D_co=8.2um,
D_cl=125um
Δ=0.36%,
λ0=1.55um,

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 Design Case 1: Modes of SMF Fiber

• Structure setup:

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 Design Case 1: Modes of SMF Fiber

• Set simulation options as shown below (X/Y domain, # of Modes to Find, and
Poynting Vector). Click OK to start the calculation.

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 Design Case 1: Modes of SMF Fiber

• Once complete, use + and – buttons as well as the field component buttons to
view the field distribution. Note that the first two modes (m=0,1) have same Neff
but a different polarization: these are degenerate modes. The modes with m=3+
are not confined: these are radiated modes.

m=0 m=1

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 Design Case 2: Si Nanowire

Parameters:
λ = 1.55um
Wire height=0.22um
Wire width=0.45um
Cover: Air
Substrate: SiO2

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 RSoft CAD setup
1)

2)

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 RSoft CAD setup
3)

* Set imaginary index to be zero so that only waveguide loss is

included in investigation first.

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 RSoft CAD setup
4)
Plot the index profile. Note that
the cover is black, meaning that
its index is lower than the color
scale minimum

Draw a straight segment of any

length

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 Simulation Parameter Set up

Default values are used for most # of Modes to Find is set

parameters except the Grid Size. to 3, so that we can have
Since we know it will be well guided chance to see how many
mode, we leave the PML width at 0. modes this waveguide
support.

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 Simulation Results

• The calculated modes show that this waveguide only supports one mode.

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Thank You