Photon Design's two-day, laser design course is now part of Cardiff University's physics curriculum.
13 April 2026
Photon Design, a global leader in photonic simulation CAD software, has partnered with Cardiff University to deliver a two-day, laser design course, as part of its physics curriculum. Students begin the course with laser theory and end by producing practical laser designs and models. The students gain hands-on experience of Photon Design’s CAD software, using its FIMMPROP simulation tool to create laser component designs, circuit simulations, and layouts. Students then progress to Photon Design’s PICWave to produce a complete design workflow with three-dimensional, time evolving, laser modelling. The course provides hands-on experience of how advanced simulation tools can simplify and accelerate the laser design process, producing functional laser designs within just two days.
Alex Edwards, Scientific Advisor at Photon Design, who delivers the course, said, “The unique partnership with Cardiff University gives students valuable, real-world, industrial laser design experience, modelling physics in action. Within two days, students produce manufacturable laser designs, clearly demonstrating the simplicity, speed, and efficiency of the simulation tools and connecting academic theory to practical industry skills.
“The course includes simulating photonic components like MMIs, rings, and tapered waveguides with FIMMPROP. Introducing this EigenMode Expansion (EME)-based simulation tool is often pivotal for students, as they experience its impressive speed compared to the more familiar FDTD method. With EME, we conduct equally thorough simulations in seconds, not the hours required by FDTD, making it possible to iterate laser designs efficiently and an essential part of the process.
“PICWave offers students many advanced physics effects, essential for modelling cutting-edge lasers. This covers optical mode propagation, thermal effects, carrier diffusion, and how their combined coupling will impact laser gain, ensuring the laser design meets individual application requirements.
“Our partnership with Cardiff University provides valuable feedback that helps to enhance our laser simulation products, informing and improving our next-generation of laser simulation tools.”
For more information about Photon Design Ltd contact:
www.photond.com
Photon Design Ltd
34 Leopold Street
Oxford, OX4 1TW
United Kingdom
Tel: +44 1865 324990