Hybrid Time-and-Frequency-Domain approach for modeling photonic integrated circuits

Abstract

Modern simulators of photonic integrated circuits (PICs) employ either frequency-domain or time-domain approaches for system-level modeling of PICs. We critically examine limitations of both approaches that obstruct their usage for simulations of large-scale PICs, and suggest an efficient hybrid alternative. Within this new approach clusters of connected linear PIC elements are modeled in frequency domain, while interconnections between such clusters and non-passive PIC elements are modeled in time domain.

Towards an automated design framework for large-scale photonic integrated circuits

“…To overcome the aforementioned limitations we have developed a hybrid time-and-frequency-domain simulation approach [7]. Within this approach, all passive sub-circuits are first modeled in SMATRIX simulation domain and, therefore, they are automatically (and transparently for users) replaced by single-entity passive devices.…”

“…Note that the current level of integration has been reached by micro-electronics by 1969 -during the infancy of the first electronic circuit analysis programs [3]. Remarkably, now we recapture those times once again, living in the beginnings of commercially available photonic circuit simulators [4][5][6][7][8][9].…”

“…We will not address here other important parts of the automated design framework, such as the need for a modern graphical user interface (top panel in Figure 1) and advanced optimization, visualization, and analysis capabilities (bottom panel in Figure 1). The interested reader is referred to [7] for more details on our approaches to these parts of the automated design framework.…”

Extending hybrid integrated diode lasers to multi-frequency oscillation

“…Such circuit would be modeled easiest with a complex-valued transmission or reflection spectrum. To model the gain section in the time domain and the feedback circuit in the frequency domain, the numerical model makes use of hybrid Time-and-Frequency-Domain Modeling [105]. In this approach, a cluster of passive components is described in the frequency domain by a single, frequency-dependent scattering matrix (Smatrix).…”