New Course: Integrated Photonics Simulation Library
Virtual Manufacturing Labs Simulation Library course presented by Dr. Erik Verlage
Photonic integrated circuit (PIC) designers must have a firm understanding of waveguide modes to work with the micron-scale behavior of light.
In this introductory course developed by MIT, you will explore a library of interactive web simulations that help you build intuition for PIC component design. You will move beyond ray optics to learn the basics of modal analysis and mode superposition using novel methods of 2D and 3D data visualization. The simulations, videos, and exercises will help you gain an advanced foundation in integrated photonics that will be useful to both engineering students and experienced designers.
Topics
The Integrated Photonics Simulation Library (IPSL) course will be presented in a series of three self-paced online courses, consisting of a total 16 modules.
This first course in the series (Modules 1-5) introduces waveguide modes, electromagnetic vector fields, mode superposition, and the dynamic behavior of light in a dielectric waveguide. Students will explore the behavior of select silicon photonic components, such as multimode interferometers (MMIs), edge couplers, and grating couplers.
The remaining courses, IPSL2 (Modules 6-10) and IPSL3 (Modules 11-16), will be available in Q42022 and Q12023, respectively.
Learning Goals
Students enrolled in this course will:
Build intuition for photonic integrated circuit (PIC) design using interactive web simulations
Understand a 3D perspective of how light travels in a dielectric waveguide and visualize EM superposition
Build a mental model for the behavior of passive PIC components by replacing macro-scale ray optics with the micron-scale modal analysis perspective of light
Explore the basic behavior of the following PIC components: straight waveguide, waveguide interface, multimode interferometer, edge coupler, grating coupler
Cost
The first course in the Integrated Photonics Simulation Library series (Modules 1-5) is available free of charge. The cost for the remaining modules (IPSL2 and IPSL3) is $99 each.
Registration
This course is open to the public.