Abstract

Computer aided design tools can greatly expedite development of photonic circuitry. One can preview and optimize the performance of a new design before actually going through costly timeconsuming fabrication and testing procedures. Computer codes which can simulate optical waveguide devices have been reported.¹ Based on the beam propagation method (BPM), we developed a simulation program for optical waveguide devices (SPOWDs). We are interested in primarily Ti-indiffused LiNbO₃ technology because of its maturity. In our program, design parameters and fabrication conditions are the input. From them, we calculate the Ti distribution, hence the index profile. Both 2-D and 3-D BPM codes have been written, in the case of 2-D calculations, we use the WKB method to obtain the reduced effective index. Calculated results are compared extensively with previously published results. Once accuracy is established, we use the program to predict the performance of new designs.²

© 1989 Optical Society of America