Numerical tools for integrated optical circuits design

Several commercial computer codes which strongly help the design of integrated optical devices are available on market: they are very versatile and powerful tools. However, the modelling via home-made computer can be advantageously employed in many niche investigations, to reduce the computation cost in the design of particularly complex structures. A hybrid approach is often the best trade-off solution. Here, as examples, the application of FEM/CMT methods has been illustrated with reference to SH generation and to evanescent field sensors but also to simulate rare-earth-doped micro-disks. Chapter Contents: • 2.1 Numerical tools available on market • 2.2 Ad hoc developed and hybrid numerical tools • 2.2.1 Anisotropic waveguides and non-linear effects • 2.2.1.1 Modal investigation of anisotropic waveguides/devices: guided and leaky mode propagation • 2.2.1.2 Integrated optical devices based on periodically poled lithium niobate (PPLN) • 2.2.2 Modelling of integrated evanescent field sensors • 2.2.3 Modelling of rare-earth-doped devices • 2.2.3.1 Modelling of integrated optical micro-disks • 2.2.3.2 Whispering gallery mode approximation • 2.2.3.3 CMT applied to rare-earth-doped micro-disk • 2.2.3.4 Rare-earth doping of micro-disks • 2.2.3.5 Design of an erbium-doped micro-disk • 2.2.3.6 Design of a praseodymium-doped micro-disk • 2.3 Conclusion • References.