Comprehensive FDTD modelling of photonic crystal waveguide components

Area of Science:

• Photonics and optical engineering
• Computational physics
• Materials science

Background:

• Planar photonic crystal waveguides are crucial for integrated optics.
• Accurate modeling is essential for designing and fabricating these devices.
• Experimental validation of simulation methods is key to advancing the field.

Purpose of the Study:

• To model planar photonic crystal waveguide structures.
• To validate numerical calculations against experimental transmission spectra.
• To assess the accuracy of the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method with perfectly matched layers (PMLs).

Main Methods:

• Utilized the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method for modeling.
• Implemented perfectly matched layers (PMLs) as boundary conditions.
• Performed comprehensive numerical calculations and compared them to experimental transmission spectra.

Main Results:

• The FDTD method with PMLs successfully modeled photonic crystal waveguides.
• Numerical calculations closely matched experimentally obtained transmission spectra.
• Simulations accurately predicted measured transmission levels and key spectral features within fabrication tolerances.

Conclusions:

• The FDTD method is a reliable tool for simulating planar photonic crystal waveguides.
• Numerical predictions align well with experimental outcomes, confirming the model's validity.
• This study validates the use of FDTD with PMLs for photonic crystal device design and analysis.