Flexible and scalable automation development tool for large-scale photonic integrated circuit design

Due to the wave nature of light and the influence of optical material properties, the design and performance of photonic circuits can be relatively complex. While computer-aided software tools such as CAD can improve the efficiency of photonic circuit development, they still face challenges in handling large-scale photonic integrated circuit (PIC) designs. In this paper, we develop a photonics design automation tool, called GT Photonics, which provides a flexible development environment capable of handling large-scale PIC designs. The GT Photonics platform integrates multiple high-performance photonic devices, including passive and active components, and allows users to freely develop and adjust the parameters of individual photonic devices. To enhance development efficiency, the platform offers various design methods, modular development, parameter unit reuse, customizability, and intelligent routing capabilities. These features streamline the development of complex photonic integrated circuits. To facilitate development, the platform defines a netlist view to record photonic device information and employs visual design methods for circuit visualization. Once the design is completed, the photonic circuit can be exported as a Graphic Data System version 2 (GDSII) file for performance simulation and validation. This article presents a case study involving the design of an optical phased array (OPA) using the GT Photonics platform. The case study encompasses the design process, design outcomes, and various design details. Photonic design automation holds significant importance for engineering and research endeavors.