Engineering challenges in photonic integrated circuits (PIC)
Photonic integrated circuits are one of the fastest-growing fields of engineering — integrating optical functions on a silicon chip or another photonic material paves the way for 400G/800G transceivers, next-generation LiDAR sensors, photonic computing, and quantum communication. But designing PICs is fundamentally harder than designing electronic circuits.
Every component — a coupler, a splitter, a modulator, a ring resonator — must be precisely simulated before it goes to the foundry (FAB). A 10-nanometer geometry error can shift an optical filter's characteristic by more than ten decibels. Etching a defective wafer at a professional FAB costs tens of thousands of dollars and weeks of time. Simulation is the only way to reduce this risk.
An additional challenge is integration with electronics — laser drivers, TIA amplifiers, and receiver circuits must be co-designed with the optical path. Traditional EDA tools don't handle the optical domain, and classic photonic tools don't know electronics. iSymulacje provides both kinds of tools — and knows how to connect them.
How does our software support design?
| Product | Role in this area |
|---|---|
 | GPU-accelerated FDTD + mode solver — generating compact models of PDK components |
 | Simulating optoelectronic circuits at the transistor level — laser drivers, TIAs, PDs |
 | 2D/3D FDTD simulation — structural analysis of photonic components, photonic crystals |
 | BPM for long waveguide systems — splitters, couplers, EO modulators |
 | Mode analysis — optimizing waveguide dimensions, calculating effective indices |
 | Transmission-system simulation — verifying the PIC in the context of the optical path |
a compact Y-coupler model for a PDK
Design assumptions
A team developing a 400G transceiver in silicon photonics technology needs compact component models compliant with the PDK (Process Design Kit) of the chosen foundry (FAB), enabling the design and verification of integrated photonic circuits.
Y-coupler simulation
Parametric FDTD simulations, driven from Python, were carried out in OptiOmega. The Y-coupler geometry was iteratively optimized, varying the branch angle, waveguide length, and width, among other parameters. GPU acceleration cut computation time from several days to a few hours.
Compact model generation
Based on the simulation results, scattering parameters (S-parameters) were determined and saved as a compact model compliant with the PDK, ready for use in the OptiSPICE environment.
Photonic circuit analysis
The model was used to simulate the entire photonic circuit in OptiSPICE, analyzing transmission characteristics, the impact of noise, and how the coupler interacts with the rest of the path, such as the laser driver and the transimpedance amplifier (TIA).
Verified design
A complete design flow, from component geometry to circuit-level simulation, enabled design verification before an expensive prototype run in the FAB production process, significantly shortening development time and reducing development costs.
Frequently asked questions
Simulation and design of photonic integrated circuits (PICs)
Is OptiOmega compatible with PDKs from production foundries (e.g. IMEC, GlobalFoundries)?
OptiOmega generates compact models in S-parameter format, which are compatible with standard circuit-level environments. Direct integration with specific PDKs depends on the availability of PDK kits from the FAB — get in touch with us to discuss the details of your project.
How does Optiwave's approach to PIC differ from Lumerical (Ansys)?
Optiwave offers an integrated ecosystem of tools from the component level (OptiFDTD, OptiOmega) through the circuit (OptiSPICE) to the system (OptiSystem). Key advantages include a Python-first API in OptiOmega and a lower total license cost — especially significant for universities and photonics startups.
Can I use Optiwave to design PICs on platforms other than silicon?
Yes. Optiwave tools work with any material platform — silicon (Si), silicon nitride (SiN), indium phosphide (InP), LiNbO₃, and others. Material properties are user-defined.
Is there support for quantum photonics and QKD?
OptiSystem supports modeling QKD (Quantum Key Distribution) systems and entangled photon sources. OptiOmega enables simulation of photonic nanoresonators used in quantum photonics.
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