Create an AWG PDK from Device to Circuit

Arrayed Waveguide Gratings (AWGs) are important building blocks in photonic integrated circuits (PICs), providing wavelength multiplexing and demultiplexing capabilities for optical communications, sensing, and other multi-wavelength applications. Developing these devices requires engineers to accurately model waveguide and slab behavior while ensuring that device-level results can be efficiently incorporated into circuit simulation and physical layout.

This application note demonstrates an integrated workflow for designing a Silicon 4×4 AWG using RSoft BeamPROP BPM and ADS Photonic Designer. The methodology connects detailed device-level electromagnetic analysis with circuit-level simulation and layout generation, providing a consistent path from initial AWG design through system verification and mask-ready implementation.

The workflow begins with the RSoft AWG Utility, which supports AWG geometry generation and simulation. RSoft BeamPROP provides detailed analysis of optical propagation through the device, enabling engineers to evaluate and refine its performance. The Custom-PDK Generation Utility is then used to extract S-matrix data from the simulated structure and create a reusable representation of the AWG for subsequent design stages.

The resulting model can be integrated directly into ADS Photonic Designer, where engineers can perform schematic-driven circuit simulation, evaluate the AWG as part of a larger photonic system, and generate the corresponding physical layout. This approach is particularly suited to passive photonic components that can be accurately represented using S-parameters, helping bridge the gap between detailed electromagnetic simulation and scalable PIC development.

By connecting RSoft device simulation, automated S-matrix extraction, custom PDK generation, and ADS circuit and layout capabilities, the workflow reduces manual transitions between design stages and helps maintain consistency throughout development. The resulting AWG PDK can be reused in applications such as wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM) transceivers, optical routing networks, and multi-channel filtering systems, supporting efficient development of compact, scalable, multi-wavelength photonic integrated circuits.