Created in COMSOL Multiphysics 6.

Optical Ring Resonator Notch Filter

This model is licensed under the COMSOL Software License Agreement 6.2.
All trademarks are the property of their respective owners. See www.comsol.com/trademarks.
Introduction
This example is a 2D version of Optical Ring Resonator Notch Filter 3D. For a general
introduction on how to model an optical ring resonator device, see the latter model.

This model solves in a 2D geometry with out-of-plane polarization. So, essentially a scalar
wave equation is solved. Thereby, this model solves quickly and can be used to investigate
different types of optical ring resonator designs, before more time- and memory-
consuming 3D simulations are performed.

Model Definition
This application is set up using the Electromagnetic Waves, Beam Envelopes interface, to
handle the propagation over distances that are many wavelengths long. Since the wave
propagates in essentially one direction along the straight waveguide and along the
waveguide ring, the unidirectional formulation is used. This assumes that the electric field
for the wave can be written as

E = E 1 exp  – j  , (1)

where E1 is a slowly varying field envelope function and  is an approximation of the

propagation phase for the wave. The definitions used for the phase in the straight and ring
waveguide are shown in Table 1, Table 2, and Table 3.
TABLE 1: PHASE DEFINITION IN STRAIGHT WAVEGUIDE DOMAINS.

NAME EXPRESSION UNIT DESCRIPTION

phi ewbe.beta_1*y rad Phase

TABLE 2: PHASE DEFINITION IN RING WAVEGUIDE - LEFT DOMAIN.

NAME EXPRESSION UNIT DESCRIPTION

phi ewbe.beta_1*r0*atan2(y,-(x-r0-dx)) rad Phase

TABLE 3: PHASE DEFINITION IN RING WAVEGUIDE - RIGHT DOMAIN.

NAME EXPRESSION UNIT DESCRIPTION

phi ewbe.beta_1*r0*atan2(-y,(x-r0-dx)) rad Phase

The parameters r0 and dx correspond, respectively, to the curvature radius of the ring
waveguide and to the separation between the straight and ring waveguide cores. The phase
approximation defined in the tables above is discontinuous at the boundary between the
straight waveguide and the ring waveguide as well as at the boundary between the left and
the right ring waveguide domains. To handle this phase discontinuity and thereby the
discontinuity in the field envelope, E1, a Field Continuity boundary condition is used at

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the aforementioned boundaries. The Field Continuity boundary condition ensures that
the tangential components of the electric and the magnetic fields are continuous at the
boundary, despite the phase jump.

Figure 1: Plot of the predefined phase approximation. Notice the phase jump at the boundary
between the left and right part of the ring waveguide. The discontinuity at the boundary
between the straight and the ring waveguide is not visible at this scale.

For the dielectric waveguide structure used in this model, there is no analytical solution
for the mode propagation constant and electric field. Thus, numeric ports are used and
boundary mode analysis study steps are used for numerically solving for the mode
propagation constant and electric field. Since those quantities depend on the wavelength,
a parametric sweep over the wavelength is used for calculating new mode and domain
fields for each wavelength.

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Results and Discussion
Figure 2 below shows the transmittance spectrum for the optical ring resonator.

Figure 2: Transmittance spectrum for the optical ring resonator.

and Figure 3 shows a field plot for a resonant wavelength. Notice that the field in the
straight waveguide and the field incoming from the ring are out of phase when they

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interfere in the coupler. Thereby the outgoing field in the straight waveguide is almost
zero.

Figure 3: The out-of-plane component of the electric field for the resonant wavelength.

Notes About the COMSOL Implementation

This model geometry is easily set up by importing a geometry part from the COMSOL
Part Libraries. The slab waveguide coupling between a straight and a ring waveguide
section, with core embedded in a cladding domain, is available in the Wave Optics Module
under Slab Waveguides.

Predefined geometry parts can be quickly modified by changing the default input
parameters. Moreover, geometry parts provide targeted selections of domains and
boundaries that greatly simplify the model building. As demonstrated in this model, these
built-in selections are useful when adding materials, physics features and mesh sequences.

Application Library path: Wave_Optics_Module/Couplers_Filters_and_Mirrors/

optical_ring_resonator

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Modeling Instructions
First add the physics interface and the study sequence.

From the File menu, choose New.

NEW
In the New window, click Model Wizard.

MODEL WIZARD
1 In the Model Wizard window, click 2D.
2 In the Select Physics tree, select Optics>Wave Optics>Electromagnetic Waves,
Beam Envelopes (ewbe).
3 Click Add.
4 Click Study.
5 In the Select Study tree, select Preset Studies for Selected Physics Interfaces>
Boundary Mode Analysis.
6 Click Done.

The geometry for the optical ring resonator is straightforward to set up. Load the Slab
Waveguide Straight-to-Ring Coupler geometry part from the COMSOL Part Libraries
and then modify the input parameters in order to build the desired geometry.

PART LIBRARIES
1 In the Home toolbar, click Windows and choose Part Libraries.
2 In the Part Libraries window, select Wave Optics Module>Slab Waveguides>
slab_waveguide_straight_to_ring_coupler in the tree.
3 Click Add to Geometry.

GEOMETRY 1

Slab Waveguide Straight-to-Ring Coupler 1 (pi1)

1 In the Model Builder window, under Component 1 (comp1)>Geometry 1 click
Slab Waveguide Straight-to-Ring Coupler 1 (pi1).
2 In the Settings window for Part Instance, click Build All Objects.

GLOBAL DEFINITIONS
Start by loading a few more parameters required for building the physics and defining the
materials.

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Parameters 1
1 In the Model Builder window, under Global Definitions click Parameters 1.
2 In the Settings window for Parameters, locate the Parameters section.
3 Click Load from File.
4 Browse to the model’s Application Libraries folder and double-click the file
optical_ring_resonator_parameters.txt.

GEOMETRY 1

Slab Waveguide Straight-to-Ring Coupler 1 (pi1)

1 In the Model Builder window, under Component 1 (comp1)>Geometry 1 click
Slab Waveguide Straight-to-Ring Coupler 1 (pi1).
2 In the Settings window for Part Instance, locate the Input Parameters section.
3 In the table, enter the following settings:

Name Expression Value Description

core_width w_core 2E-7 m Core width
cladding_width w_clad 2E-6 m Cladding width
element_length 2*r0+w_clad 1.44E-5 m Element length
coupler_core_separati dx 7.1666E-7 m Core separation in
on coupler region
ring_radius r0 6.2E-6 m Ring radius

and leave the rest of the input parameters unchanged.

4 Locate the Position and Orientation of Output section. In the y-displacement text field,
type -r0-w_clad/2.
5 Click Build All Objects.
6 Click the Zoom Extents button in the Graphics toolbar.
Choose to keep those domain and boundary selections that will be useful later when
adding materials, boundary conditions and the mesh sequence.
7 Click to expand the Domain Selections section. In the table, enter the following settings:

Name Keep Physics Contribute to

All  None
Core   None
Cladding   None

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Name Keep Physics Contribute to
Ring domain 1   None
Ring domain 2   None
Straight domain   None
8 Click to expand the Boundary Selections section. In the table, enter the following
settings:

Name Keep Physics Contribute to

Exterior  None
Port 1   None
Port 1 core  None
Port 1 cladding  None
Port 2   None
Port 2 core  None
Port 2 cladding  None
Transverse perimeter   None
Edge mesh   None
Field continuity   None

DEFINITIONS
Now add the definitions for the phase in the waveguide domains.

Phase, straight waveguide

1 In the Model Builder window, under Component 1 (comp1) right-click Definitions and
choose Variables.
2 In the Settings window for Variables, type Phase, straight waveguide in the Label
text field.
3 Locate the Geometric Entity Selection section. From the Geometric entity level list,
choose Domain.

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4 From the Selection list, choose Straight domain (Slab Waveguide Straight-to-
Ring Coupler 1).

5 Locate the Variables section. In the table, enter the following settings:

Name Expression Unit Description

phi ewbe.beta_1*y

Phase, ring waveguide 1

1 In the Model Builder window, right-click Definitions and choose Variables.
2 In the Settings window for Variables, type Phase, ring waveguide 1 in the Label text
field.
3 Locate the Geometric Entity Selection section. From the Geometric entity level list,
choose Domain.

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4 From the Selection list, choose Ring domain 1 (Slab Waveguide Straight-to-
Ring Coupler 1).

5 Locate the Variables section. In the table, enter the following settings:

Name Expression Unit Description

phi ewbe.beta_1*r0*atan2(y,-(x-r0-dx))

Phase, ring waveguide 2

1 Right-click Definitions and choose Variables.
2 In the Settings window for Variables, type Phase, ring waveguide 2 in the Label text
field.
3 Locate the Geometric Entity Selection section. From the Geometric entity level list,
choose Domain.

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4 From the Selection list, choose Ring domain 2 (Slab Waveguide Straight-to-
Ring Coupler 1).

5 Locate the Variables section. In the table, enter the following settings:

Name Expression Unit Description

phi ewbe.beta_1*r0*atan2(-y,(x-r0-dx))

MATERIALS

Cladding
1 In the Model Builder window, under Component 1 (comp1) right-click Materials and
choose Blank Material.
2 In the Settings window for Material, type Cladding in the Label text field.

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3 Locate the Geometric Entity Selection section. From the Selection list, choose
Cladding (Slab Waveguide Straight-to-Ring Coupler 1).

4 Locate the Material Contents section. In the table, enter the following settings:

Property Variable Value Unit Property group

Refractive index, n_iso ; nii = n_iso, n_clad 1 Refractive index
real part nij = 0

Core
1 Right-click Materials and choose Blank Material.
2 In the Settings window for Material, type Core in the Label text field.

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3 Locate the Geometric Entity Selection section. From the Selection list, choose
Core (Slab Waveguide Straight-to-Ring Coupler 1).

4 Locate the Material Contents section. In the table, enter the following settings:

Property Variable Value Unit Property group

Refractive index, n_iso ; nii = n_iso, n_core 1 Refractive index
real part nij = 0

ELECTROMAGNETIC WAVES, BEAM ENVELOPES (EWBE)

1 In the Model Builder window, under Component 1 (comp1) click Electromagnetic Waves,
Beam Envelopes (ewbe).
2 In the Settings window for Electromagnetic Waves, Beam Envelopes, locate the
Components section.
3 From the Electric field components solved for list, choose Out-of-plane vector.
4 Locate the Wave Vectors section. From the Number of directions list, choose
Unidirectional.
5 From the Type of phase specification list, choose User defined.
6 In the 1 text field, type phi.

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Port 1
1 In the Physics toolbar, click Boundaries and choose Port.
2 In the Settings window for Port, locate the Boundary Selection section.
3 From the Selection list, choose Port 1 (Slab Waveguide Straight-to-Ring Coupler 1).

4 Locate the Port Properties section. From the Type of port list, choose Numeric.
For the first port, wave excitation is on by default.

5 Right-click Port 1 and choose Duplicate.

Port 2
1 In the Model Builder window, click Port 2.
2 In the Settings window for Port, locate the Boundary Selection section.
3 From the Selection list, choose Port 2 (Slab Waveguide Straight-to-Ring Coupler 1).

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4 Locate the Port Properties section. From the Wave excitation at this port list, choose Off.

Scattering Boundary Condition 1

1 In the Physics toolbar, click Boundaries and choose Scattering Boundary Condition.
2 In the Settings window for Scattering Boundary Condition, locate the Boundary Selection
section.

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3 From the Selection list, choose Transverse perimeter (Slab Waveguide Straight-to-
Ring Coupler 1).

4 Click the Show More Options button in the Model Builder toolbar.
5 In the Show More Options dialog box, in the tree, select the check box for the node
Physics>Advanced Physics Options.
6 Click OK.

Field Continuity 1
1 In the Physics toolbar, click Boundaries and choose Field Continuity.
2 In the Settings window for Field Continuity, locate the Boundary Selection section.

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3 From the Selection list, choose Field continuity (Slab Waveguide Straight-to-
Ring Coupler 1).

MESH 1
For this model an edge mesh and a mapped mesh will be used.

Edge 1
1 In the Mesh toolbar, click More Generators and choose Edge.
2 In the Settings window for Edge, locate the Boundary Selection section.
3 From the Selection list, choose Edge mesh (Slab Waveguide Straight-to-Ring Coupler 1).

Distribution 1
1 Right-click Edge 1 and choose Distribution.
2 In the Settings window for Distribution, locate the Distribution section.
3 In the Number of elements text field, type 3.

Mapped 1
In the Mesh toolbar, click Mapped.

Size
1 In the Model Builder window, click Size.

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2 In the Settings window for Size, locate the Element Size section.
3 Click the Custom button.
4 Locate the Element Size Parameters section. In the Maximum element size text field, type
wl0/2.

5 Click Build All.

STUDY 1

Step 1: Boundary Mode Analysis

1 In the Model Builder window, under Study 1 click Step 1: Boundary Mode Analysis.
2 In the Settings window for Boundary Mode Analysis, locate the Study Settings section.
3 In the Mode analysis frequency text field, type f0.
4 Select the Search for modes around shift check box. In the associated text field, type
n_core.
5 Right-click Study 1>Step 1: Boundary Mode Analysis and choose Duplicate.

Step 3: Boundary Mode Analysis 1

1 In the Model Builder window, click Step 3: Boundary Mode Analysis 1.
2 In the Settings window for Boundary Mode Analysis, locate the Study Settings section.

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3 In the Port name text field, type 2.

Step 2: Frequency Domain

1 In the Model Builder window, click Step 2: Frequency Domain.
2 In the Settings window for Frequency Domain, locate the Study Settings section.
3 In the Frequencies text field, type f0.
4 Right-click Step 2: Frequency Domain and choose Move Down.

Parametric Sweep
For dielectric waveguides, the mode fields and the propagation constants have to be
computed for each wavelength. Thus, add a Parametric sweep node and sweep the
wavelength.

1 In the Study toolbar, click Parametric Sweep.

2 In the Settings window for Parametric Sweep, locate the Study Settings section.
3 Click Add.
4 From the list in the Parameter name column, choose lda0 (Wavelength).
5 Click Range.
6 In the Range dialog box, choose Number of values from the Entry method list.
7 In the Start text field, type 1.559[um].
8 In the Stop text field, type 1.5615[um].
9 In the Number of values text field, type 30.
10 Click Replace.
11 In the Settings window for Parametric Sweep, locate the Study Settings section.
12 In the table, enter the following settings:

Parameter name Parameter value list Parameter unit

lda0 (Wavelength) range(1.559[um],(1.5615[um]- um
(1.559[um]))/29,1.5615[um])

In practice just replace the Parameter unit with um.

13 In the Study toolbar, click Compute.

RESULTS

Electric Field
1 In the Model Builder window, expand the Electric Field (ewbe) node, then click
Electric Field.

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2 In the Settings window for Surface, locate the Expression section.
3 In the Expression text field, type ewbe.Ez.

Height Expression 1
Right-click Electric Field and choose Height Expression.

Electric Field (ewbe)

1 In the Settings window for 2D Plot Group, locate the Data section.
2 From the Parameter value (lda0 (um)) list, choose 1.5603.
3 In the Electric Field (ewbe) toolbar, click Plot.
4 Click the Go to XY View button in the Graphics toolbar.
5 Click the Zoom Extents button in the Graphics toolbar. The plot should now look
like Figure 3.

Reflectance, Transmittance, and Loss (ewbe)

For the optical ring resonator, where there is loss due to the propagation in the ring and
not due to material absorption, it is more appropriate to use the term loss than
absorptance. Thus, replace absorptance with loss in the node label, y-axis label and the
legend.

1 In the Model Builder window, under Results click Reflectance, Transmittance,

and Absorptance (ewbe).
2 In the Settings window for 1D Plot Group, type Reflectance, Transmittance, and
Loss (ewbe) in the Label text field.

3 Locate the Plot Settings section. In the y-axis label text field, type Reflectance,
transmittance, and loss.

4 Locate the Legend section. From the Position list, choose Lower left.

Global 1
1 In the Model Builder window, expand the Reflectance, Transmittance, and Loss (ewbe)
node, then click Global 1.
2 In the Settings window for Global, locate the y-Axis Data section.
3 In the table, enter the following settings:

Expression Unit Description

ewbe.Atotal 1 Loss

In practice just replace Absorptance with Loss in the Description field. Leave
unmodified the other expressions in the same table.

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4 In the Reflectance, Transmittance, and Loss (ewbe) toolbar, click Plot. The plot
should now look like Figure 2.

Finally inspect the mode field plot resulting from the boundary mode analysis performed
for each port. Since the resulting graphs overlap each other, it is enough to plot only one
of them. For example, pick the first one.

Electric Mode Field, Port 1 (ewbe)

1 In the Model Builder window, under Results click Electric Mode Field, Port 1 (ewbe).
2 In the Settings window for 1D Plot Group, locate the Data section.
3 From the Parameter selection (lda0) list, choose First.
4 In the Electric Mode Field, Port 1 (ewbe) toolbar, click Plot.

Electric Mode Field, Port 2 (ewbe)

1 In the Model Builder window, click Electric Mode Field, Port 2 (ewbe).
2 In the Settings window for 1D Plot Group, locate the Data section.
3 From the Parameter selection (lda0) list, choose First.

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4 In the Electric Mode Field, Port 2 (ewbe) toolbar, click Plot.

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