OTTAWA, ON – April 8, 2026 – Optiwave Systems Inc., a leading provider of photonics design software, is proud to announce the official release of OptiOmega 2.0. This major update introduces a powerful new simulation engine and enhanced interoperability designed to streamline the workflow for integrated photonic device and circuit design.
New FEFD Simulation Engine
The hallmark of OptiOmega 2.0 is the introduction of a Finite-Element Frequency-Domain (FEFD) simulation engine. Optimized specifically for integrated photonic devices, this engine implements Maxwell’s equations in 2D space using advanced triangular discretization.
Key features of the FEFD engine include:
- Automated Workflow: Support for automatic port detection, mode injection, and S-parameter extraction.
- Precision Modeling: Implementation of Perfectly Matched Layer (PML) boundary conditions for accurate open-region simulations.
- Design Flexibility: Support for linear, isotropic, and dispersive materials, with the ability to import standard GDSII layout files.
- Mesh Generation: Automatic generation of triangular meshes—supporting both first and second-order elements—that precisely match device geometry.
Enhanced FDTD and Mode Solver Capabilities
In addition to the new FEFD engine, existing tools have received significant upgrades:
- FDTD Engine: Now features a CPU fallback capability to ensure simulation continuity across various hardware configurations.
- Mode Solver: Enhanced with the ability to find bend modes and integrated PML boundary support.
Seamless Software Interoperability
OptiOmega 2.0 is designed to function as a core component of a complete photonics design suite. It now supports direct data exchange with OptiSPICE and OptiSystem. Users can simulate individual devices in OptiOmega and export S-parameter (.snp format) or effective index data to build and characterize complex opto-electronic circuits.
Modern Scripting and Execution
The software is now more accessible to developers and researchers through:
- Python Integration: Full support for Python 3.12 scripting for automated and customized simulation workflows.
- IDE Compatibility: While compatible with any Python-capable IDE, Microsoft VSCode is the recommended environment for OptiOmega execution.
System Requirements and Availability
OptiOmega 2.0 is compatible with Windows 11 and recent versions of Linux (including Ubuntu 22.04/24.04 and Rocky Linux 9.7). To leverage the software’s full computational power, an NVIDIA Graphics card with CUDA 12 support and 16 GB of GPU RAM is recommended.
For more information, technical documentation, or to request a trial, please visit the Optiwave website. Existing users will receive the installation notes and updated example libraries.
Click here for the release notes.
About Optiwave Systems Inc.
Optiwave (www.optiwave.com) is a leading provider of engineering design software products for photonic, biophotonic, and system design engineers. Optiwave provides a comprehensive variety of optical component and system design tools to thousands of leading high-technology businesses and academic institutions. An established community of engineers and scientists in over seventy countries supports Optiwave’s hallmark of achievements in Canadian business for 30 years.