Crosslight Software Workshop

23 September 2005, 9:00-12:30
PC Lecture Room, Erwin Schrödinger Center, Humboldt University Berlin, Rudower Chaussee 26
Instructor: Joachim Piprek

The workshop is free of charge, however, seating is limited and advance registration is requested by sending e-mail to

The workshop gives a hands-on introduction to high-end commercial simulation tools for optoelectronic devices (see below). These software packages self-consistently combine quantum mechanical, electrical, optical, and thermal calculations in two or three dimensions. They can be applied to a large variety of optoelectronic devices. The workshop explains and demonstrates the basic operation of these software tools. Model options and material parameters are discussed. The workshop also outlines strategies for obtaining realistic simulation results.

PICS3D:  Three-dimensional (3D) simulation of  edge-emitting lasers (FP, DFB, DBR) and vertical-cavity laser diodes (VCSELs). It can also be used for waveguide photodetectors, semiconductor optical amplifiers, photo-pumping, and coupling to external passive optical components, i.e. external gratings (1st and 2nd order). It can calculate longitudinal distribution of carrier density, gain, optical field, and surface emission modes for 2nd order grading DFB. In addition to steady (dc) L-I, or I-V characteristics, it can be used for ac, and transient analysis of laser diodes, mode emission power, spectrum and chirp analysis, AM and FM small signal modulation response, and second harmonic analysis. It may include 3D current flow, vectorial waves, Poisson and Schroedinger Equations self-consistent solution in complex MQW with piezo-electric fields, and quantum-mechanical tunneling. Physical models of various laser effects and a material data base for  many III-V semiconductor compounds are available.

LASTIP: Two-dimensional (2D) simulation of  Fabry-Perot  laser diodes (smaller and faster 2D version of PICS3D). Considers competition of multiple optical laser modes. Includes optical gain function for quantum well or bulk material with different models of spectral broadening, Coulomb interaction, and inter-band optical transitions integrated over k·p non-parabolic subbands. Import of externally generated spectra possible.

APSYS: 2D/3D simulation of non-lasing optoelectronic devices. Features include: hot carrier transport, quantum mechanical tunneling, multi-quantum well structures, k·p band structure calculation, selfconsistent Poisson and Schroedinger equations solving, wave guiding in media with arbitrary complex refractive index distribution, transient models, small ac-signal analysis, interface and bulk charge trapping, piezoelectric effect, impact ionization, optical absorption and emission with exciton, and other many-body phenomena, LED ray tracing model to optimize device structure and packaging for light extraction efficiency, photon recycling effect, different relaxation models. Broad range of semiconductor devices, including classical or quantum-mechanical resonant tunneling diodes, bipolar and field heterostructures transistors, LEDs, Detectors, Semiconductor Optical Amplifiers, Electro-Absorption Modulators.

Further information is available at www.crosslight.com