Rigorous analysis of photonic devices by using the finite element method

As optoelectronic systems are becoming more sophisticated and also more complex, the need for the rigorous analysis of advanced photonic devices is increasingly seen. In this respect, the finite element method has become established as one of the most powerful and computationally efficient approaches for the analysis of a wide range of practical photonic components and sub-systems. A fully vectorial numerical approach is necessary to study polarization dependence and polarization conversion in such a device, particularly for GaAs and InP based optoelectronic systems, since for these structures the optical modes are truly hybrid in nature due to the larger index difference at the dielectric interfaces. Numerically simulated results are presented for monolithically integrated spot-size converters, MMI-based WDM components, compact optical bends, electro-optic modulators and switches, and compact polarization rotators