Building Blocks¶

Alcyon Libraries¶

Alcyon’s PDK contains two libraries that become available in the Klayouts Library window after installing the PDK’s files:

Alcyon-Basics Libray: This library contains parametric components that the user can use to build more complex building blocks or as connectors.
Alcyon-Users Library: The building blocks (BBs) within the user’s library in Klayout are schematics or Black Boxes of the actual designs with exactly the same port positions. Although the BBs may contain SWG structures, input and output ports are strip waveguides of the same width as the pins, tipycally 500 nm wide. Those schematics will be replaced with the actual designs by the foundry after the mask submission. This way, Alcyon preserves the industrial property of its designs as well as the privacy and property of the user, since Alcyon has no access to the submitted layout (see User Agreement).

The building blocks performace and characteristics are documented in the datasheets section.

Important note 1: The width of the output ports is typically of 500 nm for single mode waveguides. However, the ports’ width may differ in some specific cases, for instance, in case of multimode ports (e.g. see MDM datasheet).

Important note 2: some BBs may not be available for fabrication using MWP services, as they may contain silicon structures with two different etch heights. These designs can only be fabricated via dedicated runs. Please check the BB datasheets carefully (e.g, see PDM datasheet).

Important note 3: Additional design support is available via Alcyon’s design services.

Ansys-Lumerical: PIC simulations and compact models¶

Alcyon’s PDK package is provided together with compact models compatible with Ansys-Lumerical Interconnect. Once the Alcyon kit (.cml file extension) is properly installed in Ansys-Lumerical Interconnect, the compact model libraries will be shown in the Desing Kits folder of the Element Library in Lumerical-Interconnect.

Compact models contain the frequency response of each building block and allow both frequency-domain analysis and time-domain analysis.

The information on the frequency response or performance of each building block may come from different sources. As described in the Datasheets section, two main types of compact models are provided:

Based on rigorous FDTD simulation performance.
Based on experimental performance obtained from optical characterization and optimization through several iterations of fabrication.

Applied Nanotools: NanoSOI PDK v5.0¶

Applied Nanotools and Alcyon Photonics have joined forces to enhance the user experience and offer a powerful product portfolio. Alcyon Photonics PDK tools make the process of designing circuits and creating the mask to be sent to manufacturing much easier, while it enables the user to combine components from both libraries.

SiEPIC compatible¶

Alcyon’s PDK 2.0 and NanoSOI PDK 5.0 are both fully compatible with the SiEPIC (Ebeam) PDK and Tools for Klayout. As such, tools from all these great packages can be used interchangeably.

Recomendations¶

In case of fabrication through the NanoSoi Fabrication Services, check the datasheets to verify whether the building blocks in your layout are available for an MPW run or must be submitted to a Dedicated run.