Meep Photonic Simulation Examples

This section contains comprehensive examples demonstrating photonic simulations using Meep, the open-source FDTD (Finite-Difference Time-Domain) electromagnetic simulation software, integrated with OptixLog for experiment tracking and visualization.

Example Categories

Quick Overview

All examples in this section follow a consistent pattern:

1. Configuration — Define simulation parameters and geometry
2. Simulation Setup — Create Meep simulation with sources, geometry, and monitors
3. OptixLog Integration — Track metrics, log plots, and visualize results
4. Analysis — Extract and analyze simulation data

Example Structure

import os
import meep as mp
import numpy as np
from optixlog import Optixlog

# Initialize OptixLog
client = Optixlog(api_key=os.getenv("OPTIX_API_KEY"))
project = client.project(name="MeepExamples", create_if_not_exists=True)

run = project.run(
    name="my_simulation",
    config={
        "resolution": 50,
        "wavelength": 1.55,
        # ... other parameters
    }
)

# Run simulation
sim = mp.Simulation(...)
sim.run(until=100)

# Log results to OptixLog
run.log(step=0, power=power, transmission=transmission)
run.log_matplotlib("field_plot", fig)

Prerequisites

Before running these examples, ensure you have:

1. Meep installed — See Meep installation guide
2. OptixLog SDK — pip install optixlog
3. API Key — Set your OptixLog API key as an environment variable:

export OPTIX_API_KEY="your_api_key_here"

Running Examples

Each example can be run directly from the command line:

# Basic execution
python example_name.py

# With MPI parallelization (for large simulations)
mpirun -n 4 python example_name.py

Key Concepts

FDTD Simulation

Meep uses the Finite-Difference Time-Domain (FDTD) method to solve Maxwell's equations:

• Resolution — Grid points per unit length (typically μm)
• PML — Perfectly Matched Layer absorbing boundaries
• Sources — Gaussian, continuous, or eigenmode sources
• Monitors — Flux regions, DFT fields, and near-to-far transformations

OptixLog Integration

OptixLog provides:

• Metric Logging — Track power, transmission, phase, etc.
• Image Logging — Save field plots and visualizations
• Configuration Tracking — Store simulation parameters
• Comparison — Compare multiple simulation runs

Example Index

Getting Started

• Quick Start — Your first Meep + OptixLog simulation
• Straight Waveguide — Basic waveguide simulation
• Ring Resonator — Simple ring resonator

Waveguides & Couplers

• Bent Waveguide — Field propagation through a bend
• Bend Flux — Transmission analysis of waveguide bend
• Coupler — Directional coupler S-parameters
• Waveguide Crossing — Waveguide intersection analysis
• Mode Decomposition — Eigenmode analysis

Gratings & Diffraction

• Binary Grating Analysis — Diffraction order analysis
• Binary Grating Phasemap — Phase control via gratings
• Polarization Grating — Liquid crystal gratings

Cavities & Resonators

• Cavity Far-Field — Near-to-far field transformation
• Holey Waveguide Bands — Band structure calculation
• Metal Cavity LDOS — Local density of states

Radiation & Antennas

• Antenna Radiation — Dipole radiation pattern
• PEC Ground Plane — Antenna above conductor

Nonlinear & Special Effects

• Third Harmonic Generation — Kerr nonlinearity
• Cherenkov Radiation — Superluminal source

MPB Band Structure

• MPB Tutorial — Introduction to MPB
• Square Rods — 2D photonic crystal
• Triangular Holes — Triangular lattice

Contributing

To add new examples or improve existing ones, follow the established patterns and ensure OptixLog integration for comprehensive experiment tracking.