Awesome

Awesome Photonics

A curated list of awesome resource for photonic engineers, physicists and hobbyists

Most tools in this list are written or have a python interface, which require some basic knowledge of python. If you are new to python you can find many books, YouTube videos and courses available online. If you are new to Git and Python I recommend reading this article

layout: define the geometrical shapes that guide the light.
simulation: simulate how photons propagate, and optimize the geometrical shapes
lab automation: Control instruments in the lab
data analysis
visualization
electronics
other links

layout

gdsfactory code - includes plugins to other tools.
- gplugins
- ubcpdk and code
- skywater130 and code
- gf180
- vtt
gdstk - faster than gdspy (from same author)
- pyphotonics
gdspy based tools
- phidl - made for superconducting detectors
  - soen-pdk docs and code
- picwriter
- BerkeleyPhotonicsGenerator
- Ayar cell generator
klayout - layout viewer with python API
- kfactory
- zero-pdk - klayout pure python pdk.
- flayout
- xsection, klayout-ipc, klayout-gadgets, lytest, lymask
- KQcircuits - Quantum circuits pdk.
- siepic-tools - code driven PCells and GUI driven layouts.
- siepic-ebeam-pdk
- gds3xtrude
- spicex: netlist extraction
- simplify polygons
- klayout python
- klayout cross-section in python - Port from ruby to python to xsection macro
shapely based tools
- gdshelpers - includes superconducting detectors.
- dphox - includes 3D MEMs structures
masque
klamath
nazca
qiskit-metal - IBM superconducting based qubits.
layout viewers
- klayout - Best open source layout viewer.
- kweb
- GDS3D
- GDS2WebGL

simulation

mode solver:
- Finite Element
  - femwell
  - elmer
  - palace
  - ngsolve
- Finite Difference
  - tidy3d Mode solver is open source
  - khronos
  - modes
  - mpb - Bloch mode solver.
  - EMpy
  - philsol - Allows bends.
  - pymode - Allows bends.
    - wgms3d
  - pyMWM
  - mpb - Bloch mode solver.
  - protis - Bloch mode solver (2D only), support for multiple backends (numpy/autograd/torch/jax)
component design:
- FDTD - Finite differences time domain.
  - khronos
  - Luminescent
  - fdtdz
  - meep FDTD
  - emopt FDTD
  - Python 3D FDTD simulator - Written in PyTorch.
  - tidy3d client docs and code - Server is propietary.
  - GSvit - GPU support
- FDFD - Finite differences frequency domain.
- EME - Eigen mode expansion.
  - meow
  - emepy
  - CAMFR
- FEM:
  - gyptis - based on FEniCS, automatic differentiation with dolfin-adjoint
- RCWA:
  - FMMAX
  - S4
  - grcwa - automatic differentiation included with autograd
  - nannos - support for multiple backends (numpy/autograd/torch/jax)
  - inkstone
- Bempp - Open-source computational boundary element platform to solve electrostatic, acoustic and electromagnetic problems
- OpenModes - Mode solver for open electromagnetic structures based on the method of moments (MOM)
- pyGDM - Green dyadic method for nanophotonics, including evolutionary optimization
- SiPANN (neural networks for photonics component design)
- inverse design
  - glonet: global optimization based on generative neural networks
  - wavetorch
  - lumopt
  - angler - Frequency-domain photonic simulation and inverse design optimization for linear and nonlinear devices.
  - SPLayout code docs
  - ceviche-challenges code - Photonic inverse designs based on the FDFD simulator Ceviche
  - NIDN - Inverse design of metamaterials, photonic crystals, ... using PyTorch
  - A Neural Operator-based Surrogate Solver for Free-Form Electromagnetic Inverse Design [Paper] [Github]
- TCAD tcad repos TCAD Overview spreadsheet here
  - devsim - Semiconductor Device Simulator
  - BOSIM
  - Suprem4 - Process simulator (no python)
  - pisces - Poison and continuity equation solver (no python)
  - TCAD docker containers
  - Charon - Paralell TCAD simulator. GitHub mirror
- ray tracing:
  - ray tracing
  - rayopt
- adaptive optics
  - AOtools
- multisolvers
  - simphox (FDTD, beamPropagation, circuit simulation)
- transfer matrix
  - TMM
  - tmmax
circuit simulation:
- Sparameter linear solvers
  - SAX code and docs - Differentiable circuit solver.
  - lekkersim
  - simphony (linear circuit solver)
  - photontorch docs - code - Includes time domain.
  - opics
  - SignalIntegrity (linear circuit simulation)
  - scikit-rf RF simulator
- pyFDA filter design code and docs
- Optical communications
  - optiCommPy
- RF photonic link analysis
  - Princeton RF photonic notebooks
- Spice
  - Xyce - open source, SPICE-compatible, high-performance analog circuit simulator.
  - lcapy - Linear circuit analysis.
  - pyspice
  - openVAF Verilog-A
nonlinear schrodinger equation (NLSE): calculate the propagation of pulses along a fiber/waveguide in the presence of dispersion and nonlinearity.
- Laserfun aims for simplicity
- PyNLO more capable, but unmaintained
- PyNLO fork includes Chi2 simulation capabilities
Lugiato Lefever Equation (LLE) to calculate propagation in ring resonators:
- PyGLLE is nice and simple
- PyLLE has more features
material database
- rii pandas
lithography simulation
free space
- waveprop
- lightpipes

verification

parasitic extraction
- speedsterpy

lab automation

backend:
- PyVISA - Allows you to control the lab instruments with python. As the backend you can use NI or PyVISA-py.
- PySerial - Issue simple serial commands (RS-232, RS485) to instruments (and read data).
lab automation repos:
- pymeasure
- autosweep docs
- measurement sequencer
- drivers
- https://github.com/AlexShkarin/pyLabLib
- lightlab docs
- instrumental
- pyrolab
- LabEXT docs and code
- SiePIC lab
- hardware testing framework - Google
- pic-wafer
- laval python lab
- labrad
- autogator - camera-assisted motion control and experiment configuration of photonic integrated circuit interrogation platforms.

data analysis

pandas
dask
wafermap
wafer data
Webapp

Visualization

Klayout for GDS files
Meshlab for STL
ParaView for data visualization

electronics

schematic capture:
- skidl: netlist formatting, writing, and reading
- elkjs code demo - Javascript schematic editor.
layout
- kicad PCB layout python
- VLSI placement
circuit simulation
- Spice book
open source pdks
- skywater-pdk
transmission line wcalc