FDTD Solutions
Application Examples
Introduction
Outline
Recommended workflow
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Setup and parameterization of simulation
Running and analyzing results
Parameter sweeps and optimization
Convergence testing
Using extra computers to make sweeps and optimizations run
faster
Application examples
: Moth's eye solar cell
: Nanohole array
2012 Lumerical Solutions, Inc.
Outline
Advanced application examples (Day 2):
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Plasmonics
Silicon Photonics (Grating Coupler, Ring Resonator)
Solar Cells
CMOS Image Sensors
Fluorescence Enhancement
Metamaterials
Bandstructure calculations
Nonlinear/Magneto-Optics/Anisotropy
Other requests?
2012 Lumerical Solutions, Inc.
FDTD Solutions Workflow
1. Parameterize the model
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Add structures, simulation, sources, monitors
Parameterize where appropriate
2. Check material fits and simulation memory
requirements
3. Run the simulation
4. Analyze and display the results
5. Repeat if necessary
6. Add parameter sweeps and/or optimization
7. Run parameter sweeps and/or optimization
8. Analyze and display the results
2012 Lumerical Solutions, Inc.
Parameterization of your model
Parameterization is essential for optimization
Designs are often complex 3D structures
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Parameterization of your design
Create your own properties
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Parameterization of your design
Construct the design
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Parameterization of your design
Parameterization can include position of sources and monitors
: Any group can set properties of the children
2012 Lumerical Solutions, Inc.
Parameterization of your design
Essential for
: Reproducibility
: Easy parameter sweeps
: Optimization
Lumericals hierarchical group layout and script
based parameterization makes almost anything
possible
It is worth the initial investment!
2012 Lumerical Solutions, Inc.
FDTD Solutions Workflow
We will go through the recommended workflow
in some advanced examples
: Moth's eye design for Silicon AR on solar cell
: Nanohole array
2012 Lumerical Solutions, Inc.
Silicon AR
Moth eye structures have been proposed as a
mechanism to reduce reflections from silicon to improve
the efficiency of photovoltaic solar cells
: Chih-Hung Sun et al., Broadband moth-eye antireflection
coatings on silicon, APL 92, 061112 (2008).
We will try to simulate the reflection vs wavelength for
an example structure
: We will then consider where the electromagnetic energy is
absorbed and where the photoelectrons are created
2012 Lumerical Solutions, Inc.
Silicon AR
Assume a square lattice of parabolic silicon
structures
: Lattice period 500 nm
: Structure height 500 nm
Example files
: silicon_AR.fsp
: silicon_AR.lsf
http://docs.lumerical.com/en/fdtd/silicon_ar_setup.html
2012 Lumerical Solutions, Inc.
Silicon AR
Physical structures
: Add a Silicon substrate
(x,y) = (0,0)
x span = y span = 4 microns
z min = -2 microns, z max = 0 microns
: Add surface primitive
Set to conic surface model only
2012 Lumerical Solutions, Inc.
Silicon AR
Surface primitive
: Set Kappa to -1 (parabolic surface)
Note that when Kappa is 0 we have a spherical surface
: Set radius of curvature to 0.05 microns
: Set z min to 0 and z max to 0.5 microns
Use array feature to create square lattice array
: 500nm period
2012 Lumerical Solutions, Inc.
Parameterization
Instead of constructing the device by hand we
could create a structure group with the following
parameters
: Pitch
: Radius of curvature
: Height
We could then automatically reconstruct the
device as we make changes
See example in silicon_AR_parameterized.fsp
2012 Lumerical Solutions, Inc.
Silicon AR
Simulation region
: Geometry
x span = y span = 500nm
z min = -0.2 microns
z max = 0.7 microns
: Boundary conditions
x and y to Periodic
Z to PML
: Simulation time to 200fs
: Mesh accuracy to 1
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Silicon AR
Plane wave source
: Make sure it is large enough (x span and y span)!
: Z position of 600nm
: Wavelength range
350 to 850nm
: Direction to Backward
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Silicon AR
Monitors
: Index monitor in x-y plane
: Movie monitor in y-z plane
Set field component to Electric field intensity
: Point time monitor
: Power monitor named R at z = 0.7 microns
: Power monitor named T at z = 0
2012 Lumerical Solutions, Inc.
Model parameterization
We could parameterize the model with
: Pitch
: Height
: Radius of curvature
As we adjust the pitch and height
: We set the same properties in the moth eye structure
: We reposition the z max of the simulation to be 200nm above
the surface
: We reposition the source to be 100nm above surface
: We reposition the reflection monitor to be 200nm above the
surface
See examples in silicon_AR_parameterized.fsp
2012 Lumerical Solutions, Inc.
Silicon AR
Check memory requirements!
Check material fits
Save simulation file under name silicon_AR.fsp
Run simulation
: Diverging simulation?
Reduce dt stability factor to 0.8
: Note when the simulation auto-shutoff occurs
Can we reduce the maximum simulation time for the next
simulation?
2012 Lumerical Solutions, Inc.
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Silicon AR
Using the GUI, plot
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Ex vs t from the time monitor
Refractive index vs x,y
Reflection vs wavelength
Transmission vs wavelength
movie_silicon_AR.mpg
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Silicon AR
Scripting analysis
: Run file silicon_AR.lsf
Compare results to a flat Si surface
without the motheye patterning
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Silicon AR
We can look at the distribution of |E|2 at z=0
: Distribution changes with wavelength
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Silicon AR
If we rerun at a mesh accuracy of 2, the results change
a small amount
Mesh accuracy 1
Mesh accuracy 2
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Silicon AR
Mesh accuracy 1
Mesh accuracy 2
2012 Lumerical Solutions, Inc.
Nanohole arrays
Nanohole arrays in metallic films can have
: Resonant transmission
: Extremely high local field intensities
We will try to simulate the reflection and transmission vs
wavelength for an example structure
: We will then consider some near field profiles
2012 Lumerical Solutions, Inc.
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Nanohole arrays
Assume a square lattice of nanoholes in a 100nm
thick layer of gold on a glass substrate
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Lattice period 0.4 mm
Radius 100 nm
Substrate index 1.45
Gold material Au (Gold) CRC
Example files
: nanohole_array.fsp
: nanohole_array.lsf
http://docs.lumerical.com/en/previous_fdtd/sp_nanohole_array.html
2012 Lumerical Solutions, Inc.
Nanohole arrays
Physical structures
: Add a glass substrate
(x,y) = (0,0)
x span = y span = 1 micron
z min = -1 microns, z max = -0.05 microns
Mesh order = 3
Refractive index of 1.45
: Add gold film
(x,y) = (0,0)
x span = y span = 1 microns
z min = -0.05 microns, z max = 0.05 microns
Material = Au (Gold) CRC
Mesh order = 2
Make transparent for easier viewing
2012 Lumerical Solutions, Inc.
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Nanohole arrays
Add circles
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Radius = 100 nm
z min = -0.05 microns, z max = 0.05 microns
Mesh order = 1
Material = etch
Use array feature to create square lattice array
: 400 nm period
2012 Lumerical Solutions, Inc.
Nanohole arrays
Simulation region
: Geometry
x span = y span = 400 nm
z min = -0.3 microns
z max = 0.3 microns
: Boundary conditions
x and y to Periodic
Z to PML
: Simulation time to 100fs
: Mesh accuracy to 2
2012 Lumerical Solutions, Inc.
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Nanohole arrays
Mesh override region
: Geometry
x span = y span = 200 nm
z min = -0.05 microns
z max = 0.05 microns
: General
dx=dy=dz=10nm
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Nanohole arrays
Plane wave source
: Make sure it is large enough (x span and y span)!
: Z position of -0.2 microns
: Wavelength range
400 to 750nm
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Nanohole arrays
Monitors
: Index monitor in x-y plane
: Movie monitor in x-z plane
Set field component to Electric field intensity
: Point time monitors
: Power monitor named R, T at z = 0.3 microns
Record ONLY power (reduce fsp file size)
: Profile monitors at z = 60 nm, and in x-z plane, wavelength 675 nm
Names profile_at_675nm_R, profile_at_675nm_T and
profile_at_675nm_xz_plane
Only 1 frequency point
Set global monitor properties
: 100 frequency points
: use linear wavelength spacing
2012 Lumerical Solutions, Inc.
Nanohole arrays
Check memory requirements!
Check material fits
Save simulation file under name nanohole_array.fsp
Run simulation
: Note when the simulation auto-shutoff occurs
Does the auto-shutoff occur?
Check time monitors
2012 Lumerical Solutions, Inc.
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Nanohole arrays
Using the GUI, plot
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Ex vs t from the time monitors
Refractive index vs x,y
Reflection vs wavelength
Transmission vs wavelength
|E|2 vs x,y at both sides of metal film
2012 Lumerical Solutions, Inc.
Nanohole arrays
Scripting analysis
: Run file nanohole_array.lsf
2012 Lumerical Solutions, Inc.
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Nanohole arrays
We can look at the distribution of |E|2 at the metal film surface at
the resonant wavelength (675nm)
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Nanohole arrays
We can consider the maximum field enhancement, max(|E|2/|Einc|2)
by looking at the profile in the x-z plane at y=0
: Adjusting the color bar allows us to see the region where a 10x enhancement is
achieved
2012 Lumerical Solutions, Inc.
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Getting Started Examples
Silver nano-wire (2D)
Photonic crystal cavity (3D)
Ring resonator (3D)
Examples files are included with every installation
Detailed instruction are provided in the Getting Started
Guide
: http://www.lumerical.com/fdtd_online_help/ (online)
: FDTD Solutions - Help Menu - Getting Started (PDF)
2012 Lumerical Solutions, Inc.
Silver nano-wire
Study surface plasmons
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Photonic crystal cavity
Determine resonant
frequencies of PC
cavity
Design optimization
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Ring resonator
Calculate ring
resonator Through
and Drop
frequencies
Parameter sweep
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