Boston Chapter of the IEEE Photonics Society

Abstract:  Photonics is being used across an increasingly diverse set of applications that include high speed datacoms, image sensors, displays, augmented reality and sensing. Longer term applications include artificial intelligence and quantum information technologies. Designers face many challenges because devices use multiphysics effects and are composed of materials with complex optical, electrical and thermal properties that generally must operate over a range of wavelengths. In addition, devices involve challenging 3D and subwavelength geometries yet must be robust against manufacturing imperfections. Furthermore, photonic devices and circuits are increasingly built into systems that require not only photonic integrated circuit simulation but also coupling to electrical circuits, while accounting for packaging, thermal and even macroscopic optical effects. I will present some of the most sophisticated solutions to address these challenges including photonic inverse design, optimization of multiphysics devices, parameter extraction for compact models, electronic photonic design automation (EPDA) workflows with statistical analysis, and methods to couple wavelength scale and macroscopic optical simulations. Finally, I will discuss some capabilities to simulate quantum photonic circuits.

Links: Products and Application Gallery

Biography:  James Pond was a co-founder and CTO of Lumerical and was a driving force behind the company’s core software algorithms, technology, and advanced photonic modeling capabilities. He has two decades of experience in optical and photonic simulation, and is the author of numerous papers, patents and conference presentations. Currently he is Principal Product Manager at Ansys where he continues to work on the core photonic technology, in addition to integrating Lumerical products into the Ansys portfolio. He has a PhD in Physics from the University of British Columbia, Canada, and a DEA and Magistère in Physics from l’Université Paris-Sud (Orsay) and l'Ecole Normale Supérieure in France.

Location:  Online Seminar