Design of integrated optical circuits using finite elements

The finite-element method is described for modelling and characterising integrated optical devices using an interactive CAD facility. The application of the method to component design is illustrated by a series of examples, ranging from electrostatics to the optical frequency domain. The full vector H formulation of the optical problem is outlined and a new development described in which an electrostatic finite-element solver package is linked to the optical solver for a unified approach to the electro-optic effect.