{"volume":13,"issue":"2","type":"journal_article","article_type":"original","language":[{"iso":"eng"}],"publisher":"MDPI AG","year":"2026","quality_controlled":"1","publication":"Photonics","intvolume":"        13","main_file_link":[{"open_access":"1","url":"https://www.mdpi.com/2304-6732/13/2/128"}],"date_created":"2026-02-02T07:18:03Z","abstract":[{"lang":"eng","text":"Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are becoming increasingly important across various sectors of the lighting industry and are being used more frequently. In the field of symbolic projection, research is increasingly focusing on implementing light modulation using energy-efficient, incoherent LEDs rather than lasers. Since light modulation in micro- and nano-optics is typically achieved through phase modulation, Finite-Difference Time-Domain (FDTD) simulations are employed for analysis. The objective of this article is to investigate different approaches for approximating incoherent monochromatic light sources within FDTD simulations. To this end, two approaches based on dipole sources are considered, as well as a method involving plane waves with modulated wavefronts based on Cosine–Fourier functions and a method based on the superposition of Gaussian beams. These methods are evaluated in terms of their accuracy using a two-dimensional double-slit configuration and are compared against a fully incoherent analytical reference."}],"status":"public","title":"Approximating Incoherent Monochromatic Light Sources in FDTD Simulations","citation":{"apa":"Metzner, D., Potthoff, J., Zentgraf, T., &#38; Förstner, J. (2026). Approximating Incoherent Monochromatic Light Sources in FDTD Simulations. <i>Photonics</i>, <i>13</i>(2), Article 128. <a href=\"https://doi.org/10.3390/photonics13020128\">https://doi.org/10.3390/photonics13020128</a>","ieee":"D. Metzner, J. Potthoff, T. Zentgraf, and J. Förstner, “Approximating Incoherent Monochromatic Light Sources in FDTD Simulations,” <i>Photonics</i>, vol. 13, no. 2, Art. no. 128, 2026, doi: <a href=\"https://doi.org/10.3390/photonics13020128\">10.3390/photonics13020128</a>.","mla":"Metzner, Dominik, et al. “Approximating Incoherent Monochromatic Light Sources in FDTD Simulations.” <i>Photonics</i>, vol. 13, no. 2, 128, MDPI AG, 2026, doi:<a href=\"https://doi.org/10.3390/photonics13020128\">10.3390/photonics13020128</a>.","ama":"Metzner D, Potthoff J, Zentgraf T, Förstner J. Approximating Incoherent Monochromatic Light Sources in FDTD Simulations. <i>Photonics</i>. 2026;13(2). doi:<a href=\"https://doi.org/10.3390/photonics13020128\">10.3390/photonics13020128</a>","chicago":"Metzner, Dominik, Jens Potthoff, Thomas Zentgraf, and Jens Förstner. “Approximating Incoherent Monochromatic Light Sources in FDTD Simulations.” <i>Photonics</i> 13, no. 2 (2026). <a href=\"https://doi.org/10.3390/photonics13020128\">https://doi.org/10.3390/photonics13020128</a>.","bibtex":"@article{Metzner_Potthoff_Zentgraf_Förstner_2026, title={Approximating Incoherent Monochromatic Light Sources in FDTD Simulations}, volume={13}, DOI={<a href=\"https://doi.org/10.3390/photonics13020128\">10.3390/photonics13020128</a>}, number={2128}, journal={Photonics}, publisher={MDPI AG}, author={Metzner, Dominik and Potthoff, Jens and Zentgraf, Thomas and Förstner, Jens}, year={2026} }","short":"D. Metzner, J. Potthoff, T. Zentgraf, J. Förstner, Photonics 13 (2026)."},"author":[{"last_name":"Metzner","first_name":"Dominik","full_name":"Metzner, Dominik"},{"full_name":"Potthoff, Jens","first_name":"Jens","last_name":"Potthoff"},{"first_name":"Thomas","last_name":"Zentgraf","orcid":"0000-0002-8662-1101","full_name":"Zentgraf, Thomas","id":"30525"},{"full_name":"Förstner, Jens","orcid":"0000-0001-7059-9862","first_name":"Jens","last_name":"Förstner","id":"158"}],"date_updated":"2026-02-02T07:20:43Z","article_number":"128","oa":"1","department":[{"_id":"15"},{"_id":"230"},{"_id":"289"},{"_id":"623"}],"publication_status":"published","publication_identifier":{"issn":["2304-6732"]},"user_id":"30525","doi":"10.3390/photonics13020128","_id":"63827"}