Time Domain Simulation Setup in Ansys Lumerical INTERCONNECT — Lesson 3

In this lesson, you will learn about the key elements used in time-domain simulations.

Workflow

The following video lesson describes the general workflow in time-domain simulations and introduces the focus of this lesson about the simulation setup.


Alternate video link.


Sources

The following video demonstrates how to set up different types of time-domain sources, starting from a blank project file.


Alternate video link.


Global Properties

In this video lesson, you will learn how to set up the global properties for a time-domain simulation in INTERCONNECT.


Alternate video link.


Detectors and analyzers

INTERCONNECT’s Element Library provides a collection of optical and electrical analyzers that are used to record and analyze time-domain signals in time-domain simulations.  The Element Library also provides detectors to convert optical signals to electrical signals which can then be studied using electrical analyzers.

 

The circuit in the above schematic uses two optical analyzers (optical power meter, optical oscilloscope), a PIN photodetector and an electrical analyzer (eye diagram).

Commonly used optical analyzers:

Optical Oscilloscope (OOSC)Allows observation of constantly varying optical signals in the time domain.

 

Optical Spectrum Analyzer (OSA):  Measures the magnitude of an input optical signal versus frequency.

 

Optical Power Meter (OPWM):  Measures average optical power.

 

Commonly used detector:

PIN Photodetector (PIN)A photodiode that provides an electrical output (current) in units of amp corresponding to the input optical power.

 

Commonly used electrical analyzers:

Eye diagram (EYE): Allows observation and analysis of eye diagrams.

 

Oscilloscope (OSC): Allows observation of constantly varying electrical signals in the time domain.

 

Spectrum Analyzer (RFSA):  Measures the magnitude of an input electrical signal versus frequency.

 

Power Meter (PWM): Measures the average signal power of an electrical signal.