VPIphotonics has announced the release of VPIphotonics Transmission & Component Design Suite Version 9.5, which includes the following simulation and analysis tools:
• VPItransmissionMaker Optical Systems
• VPIlabExpert
• VPIcomponent MakerFiber Optics
• VPIcomponent MakerPhotonic Circuits
• VPIplayer
Especially noteworthy are modelling enhancements and usability improvements related to the simulation of multimode fibre based transmission systems, including support for spatial division multiplexing (SDM) applications and short-reach applications in data centres, for instance. Important new capabilities include:
• New means for detailed multimode fibre modelling considering not only linear dispersive effects, but also self-phase and inter-/intramodal cross-phase modulation caused by the Kerr nonlinearity
• New macro to apply directly typical parameter values of OM1, OM2, OM3, or OM4 fibres according to the ISO/ IEC 11801 standard
• Support of binary Zemax beam files (.zbf) to describe an optical beam and calculate the coupling coefficients between this beam and a multimode fibre or waveguide
• Accurate accounting for the spectral dependence of the fibre index profile by the fibre mode solver, which can significantly improve Differential Group Delay (DGD) calculations
• Enhanced multimode system-level amplifier model to support the individual definition of wavelength-dependent gain and noise characteristics for different spatial modes
• Significantly enhanced support of multimode signal analysis functions in VPIphotonicsAnalyzer
Furthermore, VPItransmissionMaker Optical Systems and VPIlabExpert Version 9.5 are compatible with the new Version 2.0 of VPItoolkit DSP Library, a pluggable toolkit providing access to an extensive collection of lab-proven digital signal processing (DSP) algorithms developed by the Photonic Networks and Systems department at Fraunhofer Heinrich-Hertz Institute (HHI). This new Version of the DSP Library provides significant functionality upgrades including the support of data-aided frequency domain equalization using, for example, CAZAC sequences, and means for off-line processing of experimental data.