In this tutorial, we'll explore the VPIphotonics Design Suite™ graphical user interface, or the Photonic Design Environment (PDE). We will highlight the most common panels and dialogs to help you understand what you see when you first open the application.

This video is a product overview for VPIdeviceDesigner™, a versatile simulation framework for the analysis and optimization of integrated photonic devices, waveguides, and optical fibers. This powerful design tool offers a set of full-vectorial and semi-vectorial finite-difference mode solvers for waveguide analysis as well as a beam propagation method (BPM) and an eigenmode expansion method (EME) for simulating 2D and 3D photonic devices. VPIdeviceDesigner supports the flexible definition of 2D waveguide cross-sections and 3D device layouts with realistic (dispersive, temperature-dependent, etc.) optical materials, widely customizable nonuniform meshing, and perfectly matched layers.

Explore advanced simulation techniques for thin-film lithium niobate (TFLN) traveling-wave electro-optic phase modulators using VPIphotonics Design Suite™. This video demonstrates our modeling approach to accurately represent segmented electrodes with measured S-parameters, accounting for electrical impedance mismatch, signal reflections, and velocity mismatch between optical and microwave waves, and it supports realistic Ground-Signal-Ground (GSG) electrode configurations. We showcase a complete IQ modulator design for high-speed coherent transmission, including a 2 Tbps data center interconnect with optical frequency comb generation, QAM signaling, fiber transmission, DSP compensation, and constellation analysis. Learn how VPIphotonics enables precise electro-optic device simulation and system-level performance evaluation for next-generation optical communication technologies.

One feature improvement introduced in VPIphotonics Design Suite™ v11.5 allows the user to visualize the Photonics TLM model and modify the structure of the model through the visualization. This new automation feature allows for visual verification and simplifies what could be a complicated task. The Photonics TLM model extends a well-established transmission-line laser model (TLLM) for designing multisection optoelectronic devices (lasers, SOAs, modulators, photodetectors) with support of MQW or Bulk active media, flexible electrical contacts allocations, adjustable gain and absorption shapes, carrier dynamics and chirp models, spontaneous emission models, arbitrary profile index and gain gratings (including nonreciprocal and sampled), reflective facets, Kerr, TPA, electro-refractive, electro-absorption, and many other effects.

One user interface improvement introduced in VPIphotonics Design Suite™ v11.5 allows the user to extend their integrated photonics or optical systems designs for large-scale integration. When schematics and designs reach the order of 100's or 1000's of components, it can be a daunting task to update each module individually when a minor change is needed. We created additional automation tools to make these tasks a breeze. The Object Browser allows you to navigate all of the modules used in a schematic. The new functionality gives you the ability to select and change parameters in multiple modules all at once. It also offers flexibility in what modules are selected, and we provide a macros allowing you to automate the creation of a switch matrix which can simplify the design of optical circuit switches and other programmable photonics applications.

Denis Kruchkov, the development leader at VPIphotonics, explains how to use the Parameter Watch functionality of VPIphotonics Design Suite™to simplify the task of validating parameter values of complex expressions. The feature is useful for debugging and optimizing designs.

Dr. Nebras Deb, an optical systems application specialist at VPIphotonics, explains how to design an FMCW LiDAR system using VPItransmissionMaker™ Optical Systems. Both the target distance and velocity are extracted using spectral analysis of the received signal.

Eugene Sokolov, a principal application engineer at VPIphotonics, explains how to predict and simulate the design constraints of a FMCW LiDAR system using VPIcomponentMaker™ Photonic Circuits. We discussed the impact of the residual nonlinearity of the laser and how digital predistortion could help to mitigate this effect.

Do you need to optimize the number of wavelength/optical channels required to carry client connectivity services over the whole DWDM network according to engineering rules to meet system requirements? Dmitry Khomchenko, the product manager of VPIlinkDesigner™ and VPIlinkConfigurator™ at VPIphotonics™, demonstrates the automated approach to traffic grooming in VPIlinkConfigurator.

As part of VPIphotonics Design Suite™, VPIcomponentMaker™ Photonic Circuits can help you model some advanced multisection semiconductor devices. In this video, we demonstrate how to simulate a three-section tunable laser diode using our software. We first describe the fundamentals of the Photonics TLM module. Then, we show how to create such a structure using VPIphotonics Design Suite. And finally, we explain how to do the characterization of the simulated device with the help of the Characterize Laser macro.

In the first episode of our video trilogy, we demonstrate how to use VPIcomponentMaker™ Photonic Circuits as part of VPIphotonics Design Suite™ to simulate a PAM-4 transmitter. We cover the main software functionality and guide you through a design of a simple Mach-Zehnder modulator. Moreover, we create schematic parameters, perform a parameter sweep, and optimize the design.

In the second episode, we create a dual-parallel Mach–Zehnder modulator to serve as a basis for a final design of the PAM-4 transmitter, using VPIcomponentMaker™ Photonic Circuits as part of VPIphotonics Design Suite™. We demonstrate how to make a hierarchical design with the help of the regular galaxies, add galaxy parameters, and define them using mathematical and Python expressions as well as initialization scripts in parameter settings.

In the third episode, we finalize our design of the PAM-4 transmitter, using VPIcomponentMaker™ Photonic Circuits as part of VPIphotonics Design Suite™. We discuss time domain and hybrid time-and-frequency domain simulations, resolve deadlock issues, carry out simulations with multiple runs, and visualize an eye diagram of our transmitter.

Need to configure your add/drop equipment and allocate wavelengths for a new network or a network upgrade? Dmitry Khomchenko, the product manager of VPIlinkDesigner™ and VPIlinkConfigurator™ at VPIphotonics™, shares tips on how to delegate all the time-consuming tasks (like reusing previous equipment and minimizing link loading) to the design automation tool available in VPIlinkConfigurator.

This invited talk was given by Dr. Elias Giacoumidis at the Quantum and Optical Research Initiative (QuORI) Symposium and discusses the simulation of hybrid fiber and ThZ wireless transmission links, how to model a wireless ThZ channel in different weather conditions as well has how to compensate for system impairments using a combination of digital signal processing (DSP) and machine learning (ML) techniques using VPItransmissionMaker™ Optical Systems & VPItoolkit™ Machine Learning Framework.
 
The QuORI Symposium addresses the transformative convergence of quantum technologies and optical communication systems that are shaping the future of global connectivity. As the world advances beyond 5G and toward 6G networks, the integration of quantum and classical communication paradigms is essential to meet the growing demands for ultra-secure, high-capacity, and ultra-low-latency communication infrastructures.
 
QuORI's interdisciplinary research unites expertise from Electrical and Computer Engineering, Physics, and Computer Science to tackle foundational and applied challenges in quantum and optical communications. This symposium serves as a platform for pioneering innovations in various areas of quantum and optical communication systems. The goal is to accelerate the development of scalable, intelligent, and resilient communication networks that will underpin the future classical and quantum internet, extend across terrestrial and space-based infrastructures, and enable breakthroughs across industries including healthcare, cybersecurity, telecommunications, and beyond.
 
Through collaborative efforts, the QuORI Symposium fosters dialogue and dissemination of cutting-edge research that pushes the boundaries of connectivity and network intelligence. Participants will explore emerging technologies and architectures that promise to redefine how devices, systems, and people connect, innovate, and communicate – powering a secure, scalable, and transformative digital society.

Datacenter traffic is growing exponentially, driven by demanding applications like AI/ML Training, Cloud Computing, and Video Streaming. Photonic integrated circuits (PICs) have become an enabling technology in the rapid expansion of datacenter connectivity due to their lower cost, lower power consumption, small footprint, and high-speed performance.
 
One of the main challenges of utilizing PICs for datacenter applications is the design complexity associated with their integration into a fiber-optic communication system. Specifically, impairments stemming from the PIC may not be recognized until its performance validation in the application of interest. As a result, optimizing the PIC parameters in the context of the entire system is crucial to making informed decisions about technology choices and design alternatives.
 
In this tutorial, we explore the photonic design process at both the circuit and the system level. Join us to learn how to automate the design of PICs and simulate high-speed optical transmission systems using VPIphotonics Design Suite™.

In this tutorial, you will gain insights in conceptualizing and analyzing optical transmission systems for short-reach applications. We will demonstrate how to utilize professional simulation software while adhering to recommendations from standardization committees and multi-source agreements (MSAs). We will explore the design and performance of 800G-FR4 systems, incorporating forward error correction (FEC) with intensity modulation and direct-detection (IMDD). Additionally, we will examine the transmission characteristics considering the 400GBASE SR4.2 standard which utilize multimode vertical cavity surface emitting lasers (VCSELs) and multimode fibers. Lastly, you will acquire knowledge on designing and evaluating both 400G and 1.6T ZR transmission by leveraging advanced digital signal processing (DSP) techniques for coherent technology. The tutorial will demonstrate how to efficiently automate the design and analysis processes for new standards recommendations. You will also gain insights into examining the impact of performance-limiting effects.

Free space optical (FSO) communication technology based on the optical signal transmission through a free-space channel has gained significant interest in recent years. FSO satellite links have the potential to establish a global all-optical communication network that could cope with the increasing demands for high data rates and communication capacity. Moreover, satellite-based quantum key distribution (QKD) could provide secure and private communication between distant users. VPIphotonics Design Suite offers advanced means for simulation of both classical and quantum optical communication systems for terrestrial and satellite FSO links. In this webinar, we focus on modeling aspects of FSO signal transmission in ground-to-satellite, satellite-to-ground, and intersatellite links. We will also work through a few live demos of application examples and investigate the FSO system performance in presence of such adverse effects as atmospheric scintillation, attenuation, beam diffraction, and pointing errors. In addition, we discuss the satellite-based quantum key distribution and demonstrate how the performance of the QKD link depends on a satellite's position and other link parameters.

Recent growth in the deployment of xHaul networks including metro and core networks triggers the application of very different technologies to support the increase in link distances and traffic. Critical network design constraints include dense wavelength division multiplexing (D)WDM of channels operating at different data rates, and the deployment of optical amplifiers and dispersion compensation modules (DCMs) to meet power and dispersion budget requirements. Cost-optimized planning of such networks is a challenging task considering the diverse equipment constraints. In this webinar we demonstrate an automated network design that efficiently addresses the challenges and requirements for various types of networks.

As a leader in photonic design automation for components, systems and networks, we will introduce a new interoperable software platform for the design of photonic devices, empowering researchers to explore new designs for photonic integrated circuit (PIC) passive components and optical fibers. This new platform streamlines the migration of device-level simulation data into a circuit-level simulator for the design and optimization of PICs. We will give an overview of the new platform and describe how it fits into our current ecosystem of photonic design and simulation tools.

As the complexity of Photonic Integrated Circuits (PICs) continues to grow, testing environments become more complicated. In this webinar, we will present several simulation testbenches prepared for visualizing typical measurement characteristics. The examples we will discuss include methods for group index verification, simulation of passive circuit transfer functions, characterization of SOAs, and evaluating the transfer characteristic of an Activation Unit for a Photonic Neural Network. These examples will all be demonstrated live using the photonic design automation (PDA) software VPIcomponentMaker Photonic Circuits.

Streamlining the design process, shortening the development cycle, and reducing the transition to manufacturing remain some of the most demanding requirements for photonic integrated circuit (PIC) designers. During this webinar, Infinera and VPIphotonics will present a design and fabrication workflow for InP PICs developed to address these needs. The workflow is based on the Infinera Process Design Kit (PDK), which includes devices optimized to ensure the best performance and yield within Infinera's InP foundry. VPIphotonics and Infinera collaborated to develop compact models for these PDK building blocks to allow for rapid prototyping of application-specific PICs. Join our webinar to learn how to start your PIC design with a graphical circuit representation and system simulation in VPIphotonics' software environment and smoothly proceed with physical layout implementation, verification, and fabrication by Infinera's InP foundry.

Dr. Jim Farina, Chris Maloney and Eugene Sokolov show how to migrate a PIC simulation to a system design.
Modeling and simulation at both the circuit- and system-levels are critical in the design process for optical communication, quantum key distribution, and sensing applications. Seamless migration between these two levels of abstraction will be demonstrated in VPIphotonics Design Suite. This webinar focuses on an optical communication application example by modeling a silicon-photonic modulator at the circuit-level and implementing it for simulation at the system-level in a PAM-4 link.

The use of highly-integrated photonic circuits (PICs) is on the rise, and this trend is expected to accelerate in the future.
 
The design of these complex circuits involves multiple steps, starting at the component level and continuing up to the circuit level. Due to this hierarchical structure, small variations at the component level resulting from fabrication tolerances can have a significant influence on the overall circuit performance.
 
This eSeminar focuses on two software packages, which combine advanced simulation of passive photonic, active optoelectronic and hybrid photonic integrated circuits and systems with highly accurate full-wave 3D photonic and multiphysics simulation.
 
We will demonstrate how using VPIphotonics Design Suite and CST Studio Suite together enables engineers designing PICs to automate combined circuit level and full wave simulation. This allows the study of the effect of small variations in the components on the overall circuit, meaning that the engineer can increase yield and reliability by making the circuit resilient to such effects.

Versatile design tools for integrated photonics and optoelectronics need to support a diversity of technologies addressing very different types of applications. We discuss stringent requirements imposed on them: PICs of increasing size and complexity require circuit-level simulators supporting hierarchical topologies and automation of circuit design. PIC performance testing in target application scenarios requires the seamless integration of circuit- and system-level design tools. An automated design of EO/OE interconnect solutions, especially of importance for telecom and datacom, requires dynamic communication and seamless data transfer between electronic and photonic design tools.

D.Khomchenko, A. Richter, and J. Farina (@VPIphotonics) demonstrate an algorithmic approach that efficiently addresses the link loss and dispersion compensation and equipment allocation problem for xhaul networks. It accounts for future channel loading, optical channel path parameters, signal rate, equipment parameters, and constraints arising from the insertion points of amplifiers and DCMs. The authors demonstrate the convenient operation of their method by designing an exemplary fronthaul network system.