OptiFDTD

OptiFDTD is a part of a commercial photonic software, Optiwave, for the modeling and design of photonic devices using the Finite-Difference Time-Domain (FDTD) method. Its core function is to numerically solve Maxwell’s equations in the spatial and temporal domains to predict how electromagnetic waves propagate, scatter, are confined, and interact within complex material geometries (e.g. nanostructures, waveguides, and cavities). The fundamental principle relies on dividing the computational domain into a spatial and temporal grid, where the electromagnetic field is propagated step by step while incorporating material properties (such as refractive index, or anisotropy) to compute optical responses of materials. This software is important because it allows researchers to explore, optimize, and understand the photonic device behavior before experimental fabrication and characterization.

Key Capabilities

The FINE group uses OptiFDTD software by Optiwave as a powerful tool for the design and optimization of nanostructured photonic devices. Different properties can be analyzed with OptiFDTD:

Field and Energy Distribution

These properties relate to the fundamental electromagnetic waves propagating through the simulated structure in both space and time.

· Electric Field Components

· Magnetic Field Components

· Field Intensity

· Poynting Vector

Spectral and Temporal Response

These properties are derived by analyzing the field data in the frequency and time domains using tools like the Discrete Fourier Transform (DFT).

· Transmission Spectrum

· Reflection Spectrum

· Absorption Spectrum

· Scattering parameters

Wave Propagation Characteristics

These measurements focus on how light moves through waveguides and structures.

· Wave Propagation / Field Visualization

· Waveguide Mode Analysis

· Mode Field Distribution

· Polarization State

Related Publications

OptiFDTD is used in the FINE group for the design and optimization of optical cavities in nanostructured semiconductors. For example, Daniel et al. (2025) designed optical cavities based on distributed Bragg reflectors (DBRs) in Ga₂O₃:Cr nanowires and used this software to determine their resonances and map the confined modes.

Publication List

M. Alonso-Orts et al., “Accurate and Robust Wide-Range Luminescent Microthermometer Based on ALD-Encapsulated Ga2O3:Cr DBR Microcavities”, Advanced Materials Technology, 10, 2400881 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1002/admt.202400881
D. Carrasco et al., “Temperature-Dependent Anisotropic Refractive Index in β-Ga2O3: Application in Interferometric Thermometers”, Nanomaterials, 13(6), 1126 (2023). https://doi.org/10.3390/nano13061126
M. Alonso-Orts et al., “Wide dynamic range thermometer based on luminescent optical cavities in Ga2O3: Cr nanowires”. Small, 18(1), 2105355 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1002/smll.202105355
M. Alonso-Orts et al., “Near-UV optical cavities in Ga2O3 nanowires”, Optics Letters, 46(2), 278-281 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1364/OL.410757
M. Alonso-Orts et al., “Modal Analysis of β-Ga2O3: Cr Widely Tunable Luminescent Optical Microcavities”, Physical Review Applied, 9(6), 064004 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevApplied.9.064004

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