Wave interaction in photonic integrated circuits: Hybrid analytical / numerical coupled mode modeling

Typical optical integrated circuits combine elements, like straight and curved waveguides, or cavities, the simulation and design of which is well established through numerical eigenproblem-solvers. It remains to predict the interaction of these modes. We address this task by a ”Hybrid” variant (HCMT) of Coupled Mode Theory. Using methods from finite-element numerics, the optical properties of a circuit are approximated by superpositions of eigen-solutions for its constituents, leading to quantitative, low-dimensional, and interpretable models in the frequency domain. Spectral scans are complemented by the direct computation of supermode properties (spectral positions and linewidths, coupling-induced phase shifts). This contribution outlines the theoretical background, and discusses briefly limitations and implementational details, with the help of an example of a 2-D coupled-resonator-optical-waveguide configuration.