Applications
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A fiber-pigtailed quantum dot device generating indistinguishable photons at GHz clock-rates
A Purcell-enhanced quantum dot single-photon source based on a hybrid circular Bragg grating (hCBG) microcavity was permanently attached to a single-mode fiber. The optical performance of the fiber-coupled hCBG cavity geometry was analyzed using JCMsuite. Finite Element Method (FEM) simulations with the software were essential to understand and predict the Purcell factor and single-photon fiber-coupling efficiency as functions of the fiber-to-cavity distance and lateral alignment.
L. Rickert, et al. A fiber-pigtailed quantum dot device generating indistinguishable photons at GHz clock-rates. Nanophotonics 14, 1795 (2025).
2025 DOI Publication link
Light Sources, optical resonators and antennas, quantum optics, Light Scattering Computation
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Chiral cavities made from lattices of highly electromagnetically-chiral scatterers
This work presents the design of a chiral optical cavity for the infrared fingerprint region, tailored to maximize the dissymmetry between different light polarizations (helicities). The key component is an optimized silver helix with near-maximum electromagnetic chirality, which serves as a building block for the cavity mirrors. JCMsuite's finite element solver and its Bayesian optimization toolkit were used to compute the optical response and to optimize the geometry of the silver helix for maximum chirality.
L. Rebholz, et al. Chiral cavities made from lattices of highly electromagnetically-chiral scatterers. arXiv, 2507.10481 (2025).
2025 DOI Publication link
Optical Metrology and Sensing, optical chirality, optical resonators and antennas, Light Scattering Computation, Optimization and Parameter Retrieval Methods
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Dark Lines and Polarization Singularities in Bright Metasurface-Enhanced Fluorescence
The work investigates surprising dark lines and polarization singularities in momentum-space fluorescence patterns from plasmonic nanoantenna lattices. These features arise from destructive far-field interference between diffractively outcoupled TE and TM waveguide modes. JCMsuite's finite element method solver was used to efficiently compute the T-matrix of individual plasmonic scatterers, which was then integrated into a lattice reciprocity model to simulate and validate the complex angle- and polarization-resolved emission patterns.
D. Pal, A. F. Koenderink. Dark Lines and Polarization Singularities in Bright Metasurface-Enhanced Fluorescence. Laser Photonics Rev., e02199 (2025).
2025 DOI Publication link
Light Sources, Metamaterials, optical resonators and antennas, photonic crystals, Light Scattering Computation
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Dinosaur Photonic Crystal Cavity Interfaces for Color Center Coupling to Triangular Nanostructures
The authors introduced and optimized 'Dinosaur' photonic crystal cavities with triangular cross-sections to create efficient spin-photon interfaces for quantum information applications. JCMsuite was used to perform finite element method simulations for computing cavity eigenmodes, quality factors, and mode volumes. Its integrated Bayesian optimization toolkit was employed to maximize the cavity quality factor, and scattering simulations were conducted to determine the waveguide coupling efficiency of the designed structures.
Julian M. Bopp, et al. Dinosaur Photonic Crystal Cavity Interfaces for Color Center Coupling to Triangular Nanostructures. arXiv:2510.26335 (2025).
2025 DOI Publication link
photonic crystals, quantum optics, Advanced Finite Element Methods, Light Scattering Computation, Optimization and Parameter Retrieval Methods, Resonance Mode Computation
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Efficient computation of thermal radiation from biperiodic layered systems using the T‑matrix method
This work presents a T‑matrix‑based method for efficiently computing angle‑ and polarization‑resolved thermal emission from metasurfaces. The T‑matrices of individual meta‑atoms were computed using JCMsuite’s finite‑element solver, providing accurate reference data for the scattering response. These pre‑computed T‑matrices were then employed in the treams library to rapidly evaluate thermal emissivity for many lattice configurations, radiation directions, and polarizations, demonstrating a significant speed‑up compared to conventional RCWA or full FEM approaches.
M. Gabbert, et al. Efficient computation of thermal radiation from biperiodic layered systems using the T‑matrix method. arXiv:2508.11590 (2025).
2025 DOI Publication link
Light Sources, Metamaterials, optical chirality, Advanced Finite Element Methods, Light Scattering Computation
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Exceptional Points and Lasing Thresholds: When Lower-Q Modes Win
This work challenges the conventional rule that the highest‑Q mode always reaches the lasing threshold first under uniform gain. By studying non‑Hermitian degeneracies (exceptional points) in laser cavities, the authors show that lower‑quality‑factor modes can coalesce and accelerate toward threshold, surpassing initially more favorable modes. JCMsuite’s finite‑element solver was used to compute the quasi‑normal modes of a designed polygonal microcavity and to trace their complex‑frequency trajectories as gain is increased, thereby validating the predicted exceptional‑point‑induced mode switching.
J. Kullig, et al. Exceptional Points and Lasing Thresholds: When Lower-Q Modes Win. Phys. Rev. Lett. 135, 173802 (2025).
2025 DOI Publication link
Light Sources, optical resonators and antennas, Light Scattering Computation, Resonance Mode Computation
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Hybrid approach to reconstruct nanoscale grating dimensions using scattering and fluorescence with soft X-rays
This work demonstrates a hybrid metrology technique combining soft X-ray scattering and fluorescence to reconstruct the dimensions of a silicon nitride nanoscale grating with high accuracy. To solve the inverse problem, the electric field strength of the standing wave field within the grating was calculated using JCMsuite’s finite element method solver. These near-field calculations were then used to compute diffraction efficiencies and fluorescence intensities, which were fitted to experimental data via an optimization process to determine the grating profile parameters.
L. M. Lohr, et al. Hybrid approach to reconstruct nanoscale grating dimensions using scattering and fluorescence with soft X-rays. Nanoscale, 17, 6017 (2025).
2025 DOI Publication link
Optical Metrology and Sensing, Optical and EUV Lithography, Advanced Finite Element Methods, Light Scattering Computation, Optimization and Parameter Retrieval Methods
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Investigation of Ti nanostructures via laboratory scanning-free GEXRF
This work demonstrates the non-destructive characterization of periodic TiO₂ nanogratings using laboratory-based scanning-free grazing-emission X-ray fluorescence (GEXRF) in the tender X-ray range. The angularly resolved fluorescence emission patterns were simulated using the finite-element Maxwell solver from JCMwave to model the electric field distribution and X-ray standing wave effects within the nanostructures. JCMsuite was essential for both validating the measured data against known sample parameters and performing a Bayesian-optimized reconstruction of the nanograting geometry from the experimental GEXRF maps.
S. Staeck, et al. Investigation of Ti nanostructures via laboratory scanning-free GEXRF. Nanoscale, 17, 3411 (2025).
2025 DOI Publication link
Optical Metrology and Sensing, diffractive optics, Advanced Finite Element Methods, Light Scattering Computation, Optimization and Parameter Retrieval Methods
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On-chip twisted hollow-core light cages: enhancing planar photonics with 3D nanoprinting
This work introduces the concept of 3D-nanoprinted, on-chip twisted hollow-core light cages, which are novel integrated chiral waveguides. To analyze their optical properties and the origin of their strong circular dichroism, the modes of the infinitely extended twisted waveguide were calculated using the finite element method (FEM) in the helicoidal coordinate frame. These simulations were performed with JCMsuite, which natively supports calculations in helicoidal coordinates, allowing the authors to investigate twist-induced resonances and angular momentum coupling based on the waveguide's 2D cross-section.
J. Bürger, et al. On-chip twisted hollow-core light cages: enhancing planar photonics with 3D nanoprinting. Adv. Photonics, 7, 046002 (2025).
2025 DOI Publication link
Optical Metrology and Sensing, integrated optics, optical chirality, optical resonators and antennas, Advanced Finite Element Methods, Resonance Mode Computation
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Physics-informed Bayesian optimization of expensive-to-evaluate black-box functions
This paper presents a physics-informed Bayesian optimization (BO) method that improves the efficiency of optimizing expensive-to-evaluate functions, such as those from physical simulations. The proposed method uses multi-output Gaussian processes to model the full vector of physical observables before mapping to a scalar objective, retaining more information and accelerating convergence. The performance of this method, implemented within JCMwave's JCMoptimizer suite, is benchmarked against standard BO and heuristic methods on real-world problems, including the inverse design of a nanophotonic beam-splitter simulated with JCMsuite.
I. Sekulic, et al. Physics-informed Bayesian optimization of expensive-to-evaluate black-box functions. Mach. Learn.: Sci. Technol. 6, 040503 (2025).
2025 DOI Publication link
Metamaterials, diffractive optics, integrated optics, optical resonators and antennas, software benchmarks, Optimization and Parameter Retrieval Methods
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Scalar product for the radiation of resonant modes
The authors propose a new cross-energy scalar product to normalize and compare resonant (quasi-normal) modes of optical resonators using their radiation fields. This method avoids the complications of divergent modal fields outside the resonator. The theory is applied to whispering gallery modes in a disk resonator, where JCMsuite's finite element method solver was used to compute the complex eigenfrequencies and spatial field profiles of the resonant modes, which are essential for evaluating the proposed scalar product.
M. Paszkiewicz-Idzik, et al. Scalar product for the radiation of resonant modes. Phys. Rev. A 112, 013518 (2025).
2025 DOI Publication link
Optical Metrology and Sensing, integrated optics, optical resonators and antennas, Advanced Finite Element Methods, Resonance Mode Computation
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Spectroscopic Ellipsometry of Plasmonic Gratings: Ideal Parameters for Sensing and Subpicometer Measurement Uncertainty
This work investigates spectroscopic ellipsometry for dimensional metrology and sensing of gold plasmonic gratings. JCMsuite's finite element method (FEM) solver was used to design the gratings by maximizing the sensitivity of ellipsometric parameters and to simulate their optical response. The accurate FEM simulations were also crucial for calculating the limits of detection (LOD) for grating dimensions and refractive index sensing, identifying regions of sub-picometer sensitivity.
D. Mukherjee, et al. Spectroscopic Ellipsometry of Plasmonic Gratings: Ideal Parameters for Sensing and Subpicometer Measurement Uncertainty. ACS Omega, 10, 14466 (2025).
2025 DOI Publication link
Optical Metrology and Sensing, diffractive optics, plasmonics, Light Scattering Computation, Optimization and Parameter Retrieval Methods
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TFLN channel waveguides of rib and strip type: properties of guided modes
This study provides a comprehensive modal analysis of thin-film lithium niobate (TFLN) channel waveguides with rib and strip geometries, considering various crystal cuts (X-cut and Z-cut) and on-chip orientations. The finite-element solver in JCMsuite was used to rigorously compute the guided modes, taking full account of the material anisotropy and complex permittivity tensors. The software enabled extensive parameter scans to reveal modal effective indices, symmetry classes, polarization properties, and hybridization effects critical for integrated photonic device design.
M. Hammer, et al. TFLN channel waveguides of rib and strip type: properties of guided modes. Opt. Continuum 4, 2356 (2025).
2025 DOI Publication link
Photonic Waveguides and Fibers, integrated optics, nonlinear optics, quantum optics, Advanced Finite Element Methods, Light Scattering Computation, Propagation Mode Computation
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Generalized Petermann factor of non-Hermitian systems at exceptional points
This theoretical and numerical study generalizes the Petermann factor, a measure of mode nonorthogonality, to systems operating at exceptional points (EPs) in non-Hermitian physics. To demonstrate and verify the developed theory, the authors perform full-wave finite element simulations of a realistic photonic system consisting of two microrings coupled to a waveguide with embedded mirrors. The software JCMsuite was used for these numerical simulations to compute the complex eigenfrequencies and mode patterns, and to extract the spectral response strength at the EP.
J. Kullig, et al. Generalized Petermann factor of non-Hermitian systems at exceptional points. arXiv:2506.15807v2 (2025).
2025 DOI Publication link
Optical Metrology and Sensing, optical resonators and antennas, plasmonics, Advanced Finite Element Methods, Light Scattering Computation
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High Purcell enhancement in all-TMDC nanobeam resonators
The authors propose an all-transition-metal-dichalcogenide (TMDC) nanobeam resonator with an active monolayer, designed to function as a high-β-factor nanolaser. A theoretical and computational framework for modeling and optimizing the Purcell enhancement was developed, based on a resonance expansion to resolve sharp spectral peaks from high-Q resonances. JCMsuite was used to perform the finite element method simulations of the 3D resonator and its resonance modes, and its Bayesian optimization tool was employed to maximize the Purcell enhancement under a Q-factor constraint.
F. Binkowski, et al. High Purcell enhancement in all-TMDC nanobeam resonator designs with active monolayers for nanolasers. Phys. Rev. B 112, 235410 (2025).
2025 DOI Publication link
Light Sources, optical resonators and antennas, photonic crystals, Optimization and Parameter Retrieval Methods, Resonance Mode Computation
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Numerical study of high-temperature, disk-based tungsten and molybdenum thermophotovoltaic selective thermal emitters
This work investigates the design of two-dimensional selective thermal emitters (STEs) made of tungsten or molybdenum disks with a hafnia spacer for thermophotovoltaic applications. A parametric analysis was performed to study the effect of geometry on the thermal emittance and to identify designs optimized for use with a GaSb photovoltaic cell. The spectral and angular emittance of the STEs, as well as the electromagnetic field distributions to identify resonant modes, were computed using the finite element method (FEM) in JCMsuite.
G. Silva-Oelker, et al. Numerical study of high-temperature, disk-based tungsten and molybdenum thermophotovoltaic selective thermal emitters. Opt. Express, 33, 6953 (2025).
2025 DOI Publication link
Light Sources, Photovoltaics, Light Scattering Computation, Resonance Mode Computation
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Storage of single photons from a semiconductor quantum dot in a room-temperature atomic vapor memory with on-demand retrieval
This work demonstrates the on-demand storage and retrieval of single photons from an InGaAs quantum dot (QD) in a cesium vapor memory. A key challenge was optimizing the interface between the solid-state single-photon source and the atomic system. The team used JCMsuite's finite element method to numerically design and optimize a hybrid circular Bragg grating cavity, which enhanced the QD's photon extraction efficiency and far-field profile for efficient coupling to the memory.
B. Maaß, et al. Storage of single photons from a semiconductor quantum dot in a room-temperature atomic vapor memory with on-demand retrieval. Quantum Sci. Technol. 10, 035058 (2025).
2025 DOI Publication link
Light Sources, optical resonators and antennas, quantum optics, Advanced Finite Element Methods, Light Scattering Computation
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Ultrathin Cu(In,Ga)Se2 solar cells: enhanced absorption by nanotextured functional back contacts
This study experimentally and numerically investigates a light management strategy to enhance the absorption of ultrathin CIGSe solar cells using a functional back contact with SiO2 nanostructure scatterers and a gold reflector. JCMsuite was used for detailed optical simulations. These simulations were crucial for understanding the complex light-trapping effects, optimizing the nanostructure geometry, and corroborating the experimental external quantum efficiency trends.
M. Demir et al. Ultrathin Cu(In,Ga)Se2 solar cells: enhanced absorption by nanotextured functional back contacts. J. Phys. Energy 7, 045003 (2025).
2025 DOI Publication link
Photovoltaics, Advanced Finite Element Methods, Light Scattering Computation
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3D nanoprinted fiber-interfaced hollow-core waveguides for high-accuracy nanoparticle tracking analysis
This work presents a novel fiber-integrated square-core hollow-core waveguide (HCW) fabricated via 3D nanoprinting, enabling high-precision nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA) with near-aberration-free imaging. Finite element modeling (FEM) simulations performed with JCMsuite software were used to analyze the intensity distribution, polarization, and modal attenuation of leaky core modes within the HCW. The simulations provided critical insights into the guiding mechanism (anti-resonance effect), confirmed the high-purity excitation of the fundamental mode from the fiber, and aided in the design of the waveguide for optimal performance in NTA experiments.
D. Pereira, et al. 3D nanoprinted fiber-interfaced hollow-core waveguides for high-accuracy nanoparticle tracking analysis. Light Sci. Appl. 14, 197 (2025).
2025 DOI Publication link
Optical Metrology and Sensing, Photonic Waveguides and Fibers, integrated optics, Light Scattering Computation, Resonance Mode Computation
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Characterization and discrimination of periodic nanostructures with scanning-free GEXRF
This study uses scanning-free grazing emission x-ray fluorescence (GEXRF) to characterize periodic HfO₂/TiO₂ nanogratings. To reconstruct the nanostructure geometry from measured fluorescence intensity maps, the expected fluorescence intensities were simulated using a finite element method (FEM) model implemented in JCMsuite. The simulations enabled discrimination of subtle etch-induced geometric differences between sample positions, validating GEXRF as a non-destructive metrology tool for buried nanoscale features.
N. Wauschkuhn, et al. Characterization and discrimination of periodic nanostructures with scanning-free GEXRF. Nanotechnology 36, 235701 (2025).
2025 DOI Publication link
Optical Metrology and Sensing, diffractive optics, Light Scattering Computation