Abstract: Photonic integrated circuit (PIC) designs include various paths. During the design process, the properties of the paths of a PIC design are determined and used to analyze the PIC design. Determining the properties of a path includes receiving a PIC design including a plurality of devices. Further, a first path between a first pin of a first device of the plurality of devices and a second pin of a second device of the plurality of devices is determined. One or more properties of the first path are determined based on a wavelength of a light signal, a property of the first device, and a property of the second device. The first path and the one or more properties are output.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to the layout of photonic integrated circuits using fixed coordinate grids. In some embodiments, a method includes receiving a request to place a first photonic component within a layout of a photonic integrated circuit. Positionings of components within the layout are represented in a design database utilizing a grid with fixed coordinates. The method further includes calculating, by a processor, precise coordinates and snapped coordinates for positioning of the first photonic component. The snapped coordinates have a precision consistent with the fixed coordinate grid and the precise coordinates have a higher precision than the snapped coordinates. The method further includes, in a design database, representing the positioning of the first photonic component utilizing both the precise coordinates and the snapped coordinates.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to the layout of photonic integrated circuits using fixed coordinate grids. In some embodiments, a method includes receiving a request to place a first photonic component within a layout of a photonic integrated circuit. Positionings of components within the layout are represented in a design database utilizing a grid with fixed coordinates. The method further includes calculating, by a processor, precise coordinates and snapped coordinates for positioning of the first photonic component. The snapped coordinates have a precision consistent with the fixed coordinate grid and the precise coordinates have a higher precision than the snapped coordinates. The method further includes, in a design database, representing the positioning of the first photonic component utilizing both the precise coordinates and the snapped coordinates.

Abstract: In an arrayed waveguide grating (AWG) comprising fist and second slab waveguides and an array of waveguides optically coupled therebetween, the angle of the array waveguides at the slab waveguides is chirped according to the following equation: &thgr;i=ArcSine (i.&Dgr;&thgr;), where i=−(N−1)/2, −(N−1)/2+1, . . . , +(N−1)/2 where i is the array waveguide number, N is the number of array waveguides, and &Dgr;&thgr; is a constant. The chirping removes third-order aberration (COMA) which would otherwise cause asymmetry in the AWG output channel signals, especially where the AWG has a flattened passband.

Abstract: In an arrayed waveguide grating (AWG) comprising fist and second slab waveguides and an array of waveguides optically coupled therebetween, the angle of the array waveguides at the slab waveguides is chirped according to the following equation: