Software: Lumerical Finite Difference Time Domain Method (FDTD) Solutions
Technique: Optical Simulation with the FDTD
Contact person (Joanneum Research): Barbara Stadlober (barbara.stadlober@joanneum.at)
Responsible: Claude Leiner (claude.leiner@joanneum.at)
Description: FDTD is a numerical analysis technique used for modelling computational electrodynamics. The simulation area is discretized into so called Yee cells; the partial differential form of the time-dependent Maxwell’s equations are discretized using central-difference approximations to the space and time partial derivatives. The resulting finite-difference equations are solved in a leapfrog manner.
Specifications:
- Numerical solution of the Maxwell´s equations allows the simulation of wave optical effects of optical components in contrast to purely linear optics based simulation techniques like classical ray-tracing.
- Allowing the simulation of a whole spectrum in one simulation run in contrast to simulations with single wavelengths.
- 3D CAD Environment and parameterizable simulation objects allow for rapid model iterations, for optimizing optical components.
- Use of multi-coefficient models for accurate material modelling over large wavelength ranges.
- Powerful post-processing tools included for e.g. the calculation of far-field projections, bidirectional scattering distribution function generation, Q-factor analysis, etc.
- Allows the simulation of advanced optical components like e.g. DOEs, HOEs, Metamaterials, Plasmonic structures. However, the maximal volume of the simulation area is limited to several 100 of µm³, depending on the computational resources.
Link for additional information:
