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Ansys Lumerical Multiphysics
Photonics Component Simulation Software

Seamlessly design photonic components by capturing multiphysics effects encompassing optical, thermal, electrical, and quantum wells within a unified design environment.

PRECISION MEETS PHOTONIC INNOVATION

Optimize design early and accurately

Created for design engineering workflows, our intuitive product design software generates a fast user experience. Rapid design exploration includes detailed insight into real-world product performance. Live physics and accurate high-fidelity simulation combine into an easy-to-use interface that supports faster-time-to-market.

 

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    Finite Element Design Environment
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    Integrated Multiphysics Workflows
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    Comprehensive Material Models
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    Automation & Optimization
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Quick Specs

Simplify the complexities of photonic component design by leveraging the power of seamless multiphysics workflows that accurately capture optical, electrical, thermal, and quantum interactions all within a unified design environment.

  • Waveguide Solver (FEEM)
  • Charge Transport Solver (CHARGE)
  • Heat Transport Solver (HEAT)
  • Multi Quantum Well Solver (MQW)
  • 3D Electromagnetic Solver (DGTD)
  • Advanced Optimizations
  • Comprehensive material models
  • Import STL, GDSII, and STEP
  • Automation API (Lumerical scripting language, Python and MATLAB)
  • Foundry Compatible Automated Layer Builder

July 2025

What's New

The latest release of Ansys Lumerical Multiphysics introduces new capabilities in design acceleration, including Ansys Engineering Copilot and enhanced CAD interoperability, which unlock greater flexibility and scalability for designers of next-generation photonic systems.

2025 R2 Lumerical Multiphysics Ansys Engineering Copilot
Ansys Engineering Copilot in Lumerical Multiphysics

Ansys Engineering Copilot is now integrated into Ansys Lumerical Multiphysics providing access to the AI-assistant from within the product.

2025 R2 Lumerical Multiphysics Import to CAD
Import CAD objects in Ansys Multiphysics

Ansys Lumerical Multiphysics, can now import CAD objects from Parasolid, SolidWorks, CATIA, Autodesk Inventor and ACIS files.

CAPABILITIES

Multiphysics Photonic Component Design

The suite of solvers, seamless workflows, and features in Lumerical Multiphysics enable accurately capturing the interplay of physical effects in modeling passive and active photonic components.

Ansys Interconnect LP

 

Key Features

Design and optimize a wide range of photonic components. 

  • Flexible and seamless multiphysics simulation workflows
  • Best-in-class analytic engines
  • Interoperability for verification of layouts from EDA tools
  • Automated foundry compatible geometry and material definition
  • Both script-driven and GUI-based design
  • Ansys Engineering Copilot

Calculate the modes supported by the 2D cross-section of waveguides or fibers in the frequency domain for a wide range of complex geometries and materials.

  • Comprehensive material models: multi-coefficient, broadband, scriptable
  • Automatic mesh refinement based on imported heat profiles
  • Multiphysics workflows for electro-optic and thermo-optic modeling 

It self-consistently solves Poisson's and drift-diffusion equations, offering precision with automatic mesh refinement to optimize efficiency.

  • Self-consistent charge/heat modeling for capturing self-heating effects in high-current devices
  • Automatic mesh refinement based on geometry, materials, doping, and optical or heat generation
  • Import STL, GDSII, and STEP
  • Steady-state, Transient, and Small-signal AC simulation
  •  Comprehensive material models

Lumerical HEAT allows you to focus on the stability and reliability of your designs with confidence.

  • Comprehensive matetrial models
  • Automatic mesh refinement based on imported heat profiles
  • Joule heating from electrical conduction
  • Steady-state and transient heat transport

MQW combined with CHARGE, MODE and INTERCONNECT solvers enables design of lasers, SOAs, electro-absorption modulators, microLEDs, and other gain-driven active devices.

  • Wavefunction and band diagram calculation
  • Gain and spontaneous emission
  • Incorporates temperature, exciton, field, and strain effects
  • Comprehensive material model with common III-V and III-N semiconductors and customizable
  • Scriptable and available UI
  • Results used as input for compact laser models in INTERCONNECT

When accuracy is mission critical, DGTD provides superior performance, independent of geometry complexity and within a design environment engineered for multiphysics simulation workflows.

  • Comprehensive material models
  • Automatic mesh refinement
  • Far-field and grating projections
  • Self-heating modeling (CHARGE & HEAT)
  • Photovoltaic modeling (FDTD/DGTD, CHARGE & HEAT)
  • Electro-optic modeling (CHARGE & FDTD/DGTD/FDE/FEEM)
  • Opto-thermal modeling (FDTD/DGTD/FEEM & HEAT)
  • Plasmonics modeling (DGTD & HEAT)

Change the position, ordering, and thickness of each layer. Simulate curved side-angled waveguides, then export the layer configuration, including material data, as a process file (.lbr) that foundries can fabricate.

Automate multiphysics simulation workflows and benefit from the state-of-the-art sensitivity analysis and optimization algorithms available in optiSLang

Ansys Engineering Copilot is now integrated into Ansys Lumerical MODE providing access to the AI-assistant from within the product.

Videos

Application Gallery

View all Photonics Applications

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Examples

Photonic integrated circuits – Actives

  • Modulators
  • Photodetectors
  •  Lasers

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Examples

Photonic integrated circuits – Passives

  • Ring Resonators and more
  • Optical Switches
  • Optical filters

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FEEM Product Reference Manual

The Finite Element EigenMode (FEEM) reference manual provides detailed descriptions of product features.

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CHARGE Product Reference Manual

The CHARGE reference manual provides detailed descriptions of product features.

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HEAT Product Reference Manual

The HEAT reference manual provides detailed descriptions of product features.

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MQW Product Reference Manual

The Multi-Quantum Well (MQW) reference manual provides detailed descriptions of product features.

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DGTD Product Reference Manual

The Discontinuous Galerkin Time-Domain (DGTD) reference manual provides detailed descriptions of product features.

Ansys software is accessible

It's vital to Ansys that all users, including those with disabilities, can access our products. As such, we endeavor to follow accessibility requirements based on the US Access Board (Section 508), Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), and the current format of the Voluntary Product Accessibility Template (VPAT).