Topology Optimization of integrated optical components
Contact:
Lars Hagedorn Frandsen, DTU Fotonik, 4525-6367 (lhfr@fotonik.dtu.dk)
 |
|
[Top] Photonic crystal waveguide bend (red) topology optimized (green) for low-loss broadband transmission. [Bottom] Finite-Difference Time-Domain simulations for the generic (left) and topology optimized (right) waveguide bend. |
Silicon nanophotonic components hold an enormous potential for realizing on-chip optical signal processing and routing that will initiate a new era of optical communications. The vision of silicon nanophotonics enables data-streams to be routed and processed in computing- and communications-systems at ‘speeds of light’ without the significant power and speed losses occurring in present day systems when converting data between the optical and the electronic domain.
The systematic design method based on topology optimization allows creation of improved integrated optical components with previously unseen low transmission losses, high operational bandwidths, and/or with wavelength selective functionalities. The method is based on repeated finite element analyses where the distribution of material in a given design area is iteratively modified in order to improve a chosen performance measure. The method was originally developed for structural optimization problems, but has within the last seven years been extended to a range of other design problems among those various photonic components with μm2‑scale footprint.
 |
|
Scanning electron micrograph of the fabricated topology optimized photonic crystal waveguide bend overlaid with simulation of mode propagation. |
In this project, you will design and optimize your own passive photonic integrated components using a ready-to-use highly-efficient code running on DTU’s HPC cluster. You will take part in the on-going development of silicon-based passive devices having μm2-scale footprints that approach fundamental lower limits for sizes while facilitating novel functionalities for e.g. optical routing. Designs will be investigated for robustness to fabrication tolerances and successful designs will be fabricated in the Danchip Cleanroom and optically characterized in the optical lab. The project will allow you to work with state-of-the-art technologies utilized at DTU Fotonik in the design, fabrication, and characterization of integrated components.