---
_id: '63827'
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.
article_number: '128'
article_type: original
author:
- first_name: Dominik
  full_name: Metzner, Dominik
  last_name: Metzner
- first_name: Jens
  full_name: Potthoff, Jens
  last_name: Potthoff
- first_name: Thomas
  full_name: Zentgraf, Thomas
  id: '30525'
  last_name: Zentgraf
  orcid: 0000-0002-8662-1101
- first_name: Jens
  full_name: Förstner, Jens
  id: '158'
  last_name: Förstner
  orcid: 0000-0001-7059-9862
citation:
  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>
  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>
  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} }'
  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>.
  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>.
  short: D. Metzner, J. Potthoff, T. Zentgraf, J. Förstner, Photonics 13 (2026).
date_created: 2026-02-02T07:18:03Z
date_updated: 2026-02-02T21:38:34Z
department:
- _id: '15'
- _id: '230'
- _id: '289'
- _id: '623'
- _id: '61'
doi: 10.3390/photonics13020128
intvolume: '        13'
issue: '2'
keyword:
- tet_topic_opticalantenna
- tet_topic_numerics
- tet_topic_meta
language:
- iso: eng
main_file_link:
- open_access: '1'
  url: https://www.mdpi.com/2304-6732/13/2/128
oa: '1'
publication: Photonics
publication_identifier:
  issn:
  - 2304-6732
publication_status: published
publisher: MDPI AG
quality_controlled: '1'
status: public
title: Approximating Incoherent Monochromatic Light Sources in FDTD Simulations
type: journal_article
user_id: '158'
volume: 13
year: '2026'
...