Python provides easy to learn and feature-rich object-oriented programming environment

User-friendly Jupyter Notebook and Juypter Lab environments allow combining interactive simulation scripts with results, figures, problem descriptions, and equations

Integration with the SciPy – ecosystem of Python open-source libraries enables advanced visualization and mathematical, scientific, and engineering computations
 
 
 
 

Full-vectorial and semi-vectorial finite-difference 2D mode solvers for straight and bent anisotropic and isotropic channel waveguides and fibers

Specialized finite-difference 1D mode solver for straight and bent planar waveguides

Support of nondiagonal anisotropy for straight waveguides

Handling of electric field singularities near sharp corners of plasmonic and high-index contrast waveguides

Calculation of guided and leaky modes (leakage to substrate, leakage due to bending)

Support of perfectly matched layer (PML) boundaries

Symmetric perfect electric or magnetic conductor (PEC, PMC) boundary conditions
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Calculation of electromagnetic field propagation in 2D and 3D photonic devices

Extraction of scattering matrices for multi-port photonic devices

Support of arbitrary excitation sources:
• Port modes and their superpositions
• Gaussian beams and plane waves
• User-defined fields
 
 
 
 
 

Full-vectorial finite-difference 2D and 3D BPM schemes

Uni-directional field propagation

Paraxial and wide-angle approximations

Absorbing PMLs and transparent boundary conditions

Efficient for devices with low refractive index contrast and smoothly varying cross-sections

Application examples: tapers, S-bends, directional couplers, Y-splitters
 
 
 
 
 

Based on full-vectorial finite-difference mode solvers

Bi-directional field propagation handling back reflections

Efficient for device length optimization, devices with high refractive index contrast and step-like varying cross-sections

Application examples: multi-mode interference (MMI) couplers and reflectors, waveguide-based polarization and mode converters
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Single-line definition of dispersionless lossy optical materials

Native support of Sellmeier, Lorentz-Drude, Tauc-Lorentz, and Cody-Lorentz models of dispersive materials

Easy definition of arbitrary measured and analytical frequency dependences for refractive index or dielectric permittivity, absorption, and thermo-optic coefficient

Easy definition of dispersive anisotropic optical materials (including gyrotropic birefringence and magneto-optic effect)

Easy definition of dispersive graded-index optical materials for modeling graded-index fibers and diffused waveguides

Library of predefined dispersive and thermo-optic materials (Air, Silicon, Silica, Si3N4, InP, LiNbO3, and standard metals)
 
 
 
 
 

Built-in adaptive quasi-uniform mesh

Uniform, quasi-uniform, and stretched meshes in user-defined layout areas

Arbitrary user-defined nonuniform meshes

Sub-pixel averaging of discretized dielectric constant
 
 
 
 

Predefined 2D shapes: finite-area (circle, ellipse, rectangle, trapezium, polygon) and infinite-area (plane, half-plane, plane sector, layer, half-layer)

Predefined 3D shapes: finite-volume (cuboid, prism, cylinder, sphere) and infinite-volume (space, half-space, slab, half-slab)

Creating new complex 2D shapes by combining and modifying predefined shapes using Boolean operations, scaling, rotating, and mirroring

Creating new arbitrarily complex 3D shapes by loading them from STL files

Easy creation of arbitrarily curved (including vertically shifted) and tapered waveguides and fibers by parametric extrusion of the given cross-section along a user-defined path

Custom graded-index layout objects for doped fibers and diffused waveguides

Advanced visualization of 2D and 3D shapes, layouts, and layout cross-sections
 
 

New interface class for mode solvers

Easy sweeping of wavelength and one more arbitrary model parameter (e.g., waveguide width, bend radius, mesh resolution, or refractive index)

Automated fitting or interpolation of sweep results

Plotting a mode property vs. the sweep parameter is easy—correct axis labels and legend entries are created automatically
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Immediate access to dispersive waveguide properties (group mode index, group velocity dispersion, and dispersion slope) as well as mode attenuation, effective mode area, and vectorial mode fields

Easy calculation of mode expansion coefficients, mode overlap integrals, optical coupling efficiency, mode power, and other characteristics

Electric and magnetic fields are Python objects natively supporting mathematical operations such as field superposition and scaling, scalar and vector products, etc.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Built-in field interpolation and visualization

Single-line plot methods for a quick overview of results

Highly configurable field plots supporting field lines, contour lines, density plots, etc.

Access to underlying Matplotlib objects for additional plot customization
 
 
 
 

Export guided mode properties and device scattering matrices for use in VPIcomponentMaker Photonic Circuits

Save your results (guided modes and fields) to reuse them later without recalculation

Utilize Python's power and flexibility to postprocess and export results for the desired target application