News: Suppliers
27 January 2025
Photon Design previews new quantum dot simulation tool at Photonics West
In booth 3553 at SPIE Photonics West 2025 in San Francisco, CA, USA (25–30 January), photonic simulation CAD software developer Photon Design Ltd of Oxford, UK is previewing results from its upcoming quantum dot module being added to its established laser simulator HAROLD. The expansion to HAROLD will allow simulation of gain and absorption spectra from epitaxy structures with multiple quantum dot layers using an eight-band k.p model and a full 3D stress-strain model. The module was developed and validated in collaboration with Cardiff University, which has expertise in compound semiconductor photonics.
“HAROLD is a design tool for modelling the epitaxy layer composition of Fabry–Perot and VCSEL [vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser] quantum well lasers,” says CEO & founder Dr Dominic Gallagher. “The new HAROLD quantum dot module enables rapid, virtual prototyping and performance verification of the absorption and gain spectra of the quantum dot layers, down to the sizes and distribution of the dots in the epitaxy. This will help inform and improve the supplier’s manufacturing process, linking real test results with the simulation model,” he adds. “Photon Design provides consistent, technical support for tools like the HAROLD, including involvement with the developers themselves.”
HAROLD and the quantum dot module sit within Photon Design’s comprehensive CAD environment. This is a library of simulation tools for designing passive components (such as ring resonators, surface grating couplers and AWGs [arrayed waveguide gratings) up to entire active photonic integrated circuits.”
