Inverse Design of Photonic Crystal Devices

TL;DR

This paper presents an inverse design approach for photonic crystal devices combining fast simulation with genetic algorithms, successfully designing a low F-number lens and an efficient fiber coupler.

Contribution

It introduces a novel inverse design method integrating multiple scattering theory with genetic algorithms for photonic crystal devices.

Findings

Designed a lens with F=0.47 and 11:1 conversion ratio

Created a fiber-to-waveguide coupler with over 87% efficiency

Demonstrated the effectiveness of the inverse design approach

Abstract

This work deals with the inverse design in the field of photonic crystal based devices. Here an inverse method containing a fast and accurate simulation method integrated with a competent optimization method is presented. Two designs yielded from this conjunction of multiple scattering theory with a genetic algorithm is analyzed. The potential of this approach is illustrated by designing a lens that has a very low F-number (F=0.47) and a conversion ratio of 11:1. We have also designed a coupler device that introduces the light from an optical fiber into a PC based wave-guide with a predicted coupling efficiency that exceeds 87%.