Design and simulation tools for photonic integrated circuits

The current boom in WDM optical networks has created a huge demand for a variety of optical components. Due to their compactness, robustness and suitability to large scale production Photonic Integrated Circuits (PIC´s), that combine a number of optical elements on a single chip, will play an important role in satisfying this demand. In PIC´s the light is routed through certain paths using total internal reflection at waveguide interfaces. Optical Design Automation tools (ODA) play a paramount role in reducing the development time of these PIC´s. In this paper we will present an overview of the most commonly used design tools as well as their requirements to allow for a short and efficient design cycle