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Technology
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The founders of Apollo who are pioneer in optoelectronic simulations have introduced several simulation techniques in Photoic industry. During more than a decade of intensive research in this area Apollo researchers developed several innovative algorithms and some of them are widley used by other companies in their CAD tools. Some of these methods are:
Leader in photonic integrated circuit simulation
In 1999, Apollo proposed the idea of photonic integrated circuit simulation. It turns into the final product, Apollo Photonics Solution Suite (APSS), which is the first-ever and only genuine circuit simulations introduce to market in 2000.
Inventor of Vector Beam Propagation Method (VBPM)
The Beam Propagation Method (BPM) becomes the most popular numerical method to model the wave propagation in photonics devices since its invention in 1977 by Feit and Fleck at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. Due to the scalar nature, the conventional BPM could not model the polarization dependence and polarization coupling of the optical wave. Hence, the VBPM had been a research topic for more than a decade. In 1991, Apollo researcher made a breakthrough in their research and they invented a new theory for the VBPM. Since then, the VBPM has been widely used.
The first to introduce FDTD to optics
FDTD has been the most popular numerical method in microwave since the invention of Yee's mesh. In the late 1980's, this reaserch group applied the FDTD in optical waveguide simulation. Since then, there has been significant improvement and modifications, such as scale FDTD and semi-vector FDTD to meet special need in optics. As the rapid increase of the computation power, the FDTD becomes one of the most popular numerical method for modeling photonic devices, such as ring resonators and photonic band-gap (PBG) devices.
The first to solve full-vector modes by finite-difference method
Mode calculation is the most fundamental issue in waveguide design. There had been significant effort to solve the full-vector mode of optical waveguide in order to fully describe the behavior of optical wave. In 1994, Apollo researcher derived a new eigen-equation to solve the full-vector modes by finite-difference method, by collaborating with University of Sheffield. Since then, the theory and algorithm has been widely used in this field.
The first to use PML boundary condition in BPM and mode solver
Following the introduction of the perfect matched layer (PML) boundary in the finite-difference time-domain in 1994, Apollo researcher re-formulate the equation for frequency domain application in 1995 and applied the robust boundary condition to BPM and mode solver.
The first to integrate time-domain and frequency-domain solvers
The BPM is efficient, but cannot handle any reflection. The FDTD, on the other hand, can handle the reflection, but requires extensive computation time and memory. How to combine a time-domain solver and with a frequency domain solve became an interesting and challenge topic. In 1997, Apollo researcher proposed a new algorithm to utilize the efficiency of BPM and the powerfulness of the FDTD. This unique technology becomes an exclusive feature of the Apollo Photonic Solution Suite (APSS).
The first to use neural network in photonic simulation
Neural network is a new technology to store and use pre-acquired knowledge. It is widely used in digital signal processing. APSS is the first commercial product to apply neural network in photonic simulation to build the knowledge through the library concept.
Authority in Coupled Mode Theory (CMT)
CMT is one of the commonly used analytical methods to invest modal coupling in photonics devices, such as directional couplers and multi-mode interference (MMI) devices. As a pioneer in modeling and simulation of photonic devices, Dr. Huang made significant contribution in Non-Orthogonal CMT when he was at MIT. To clarify a key issue debated for years in this field, he was invited by J. of Optical Society of America in 1992 to write a review paper (link the paper) to summarize the CMT.
Pioneer in laser simulation
Apollo has started the research on laser simulation from 1993 with the collaboration with Bell-North Research (Nortel now). The knowledge has successfully turned into a product Advanced Laser Diode Simulator, ALDS.
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About Apollo