Full image
After the simulation finishes, right-click on monitors to visualize the results. You can perform post-processing tasks using Analysis Groups (built-in scripts for tasks like calculating transmission, reflection, or grating orders) or by writing custom scripts in the Lumerical Scripting Language (LSF) or Python API.
To get data out of a simulation, you must inject light and record its behavior. Light Sources
Used for free-space illumination, ideal for metasurfaces and gratings. lumerical fdtd tutorial
Monitors record the field data during the simulation. Without them, no results are saved. Common monitor types include:
Perfect for silicon photonics. It calculates and injects the natural guided modes (TE or TM) of a waveguide. After the simulation finishes, right-click on monitors to
: Always leave at least half a wavelength of free space between your structure and the PML boundary to prevent artificial reflections.
After a quick memory check, run the solver. Post-processing tools and scripting allow you to visualize mode profiles, far-field projections, and power flow. Pro Tips for New Users The Convergence Test: Before trusting your results, perform a mesh convergence test Light Sources Used for free-space illumination, ideal for
). Smaller mesh cells automatically require shorter time steps, increasing overall simulation times. 2. Navigating the Lumerical Layout Editor
If the fields trend toward infinity and the simulation terminates early, your mesh may be too coarse near a metal, or your PML layers are too close to a evanescent field. Increase PML distance or reduce the time-step stability factor (Courant factor) in the FDTD settings.
Add a Mode Source (not a dipole).
Select a primitive shape (e.g., Rectangle, Cylinder, Sphere) or use a "Polygon" for custom shapes. In the object properties, define the physical dimensions ( spans) and the center coordinates.