Photon Design has added silicon modulator design capabilities to its HAROLD semiconductor and laser simulation platform, expanding the tool's use in photonic integrated circuit (PIC) development.
The new module supports the design and analysis of silicon modulators across a range of geometries and integrates with the company's MT-FIMMPROP and PICWave software.
This enables users to combine semiconductor device modelling with rigorous 3D optical simulation and dynamic circuit-level analysis, including travelling-wave effects.
According to Photon Design, HAROLD models carrier diffusion and accumulation under forward- and reverse-bias conditions, capturing refractive-index changes caused by plasma dispersion.
This allows engineers to evaluate voltage-driven phase and mode switching in silicon photonic devices.
The expanded toolset supports applications including Mach-Zehnder modulators, tunable filters, ring resonators for tunable lasers, and beam-steering devices for LiDAR systems.
"Comprehensive optoelectronic modelling is provided through seamless integration with MT-FIMMPROP for rigorous 3D optical simulation," said Dominic Gallagher.
He added that integration with PICWave enables dynamic, time-evolving circuit simulation, including travelling-wave behaviour.
The release includes validation reports covering multiple waveguide geometries and operating conditions, providing users with reference data for silicon modulator design.
The update reflects growing demand for integrated design environments capable of modelling both the electrical and optical behaviour of increasingly complex PICs used in communications, sensing and AI-driven optical interconnect applications.
