Electromagnetic-Based Computer Aided Design (CAD) for Wavelength Scale Optics

In this effort we proposed to develop an integrated software environment for the rigorous electromagnetic analysis and design of diffractive optical elements (DOEs). To this end, we will develop a user-friendly graphical user interface (GUI) specificallygeared towards DOEs; we will refine, expand and integrate our suite of electromagnetic analysis tools based on the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method; and we will incorporate both discrete and continuous optimized design methods. The need for sucha tool arises from the rapid miniaturization in modern technologies. Manufacturers are pushing for linewidths of 0.1 um and less in mass production. Thus, optical and electro-optical devices fabricated with subwavelength features will go fromstate-of-the-art to ubiquitous. As the components within these systems reduce to a scale comparable to their operational wavelengths, traditional methods used to analyze their performance become inaccurate. Therefore we propose to overcome this limitationthrough the development of a computer aided design (CAD) and analysis package that is based on an exact 3D electromagnetic model. The software will be designed specifically for a PC platform and incorporate an intuitive graphical user interface. Tocreate and enabling tool for the burgeoning field of diffractive optical elements and micro-optical devices.