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RETHINKING PHOTONIC DESIGN: TOWARD A UNIFIED WORKFLOW

Designing photonic integrated circuits (PICs) has long been a fragmented process. Engineers and researchers often use separate tools for layout, electromagnetic simulation, circuit analysis, and foundry PDKs, each with its own interface and learning curve.

PhotonForge is built to change that. It brings the entire photonic design workflow into a single, unified environment connecting layout, simulation, and fabrication in a seamless, end-to-end platform.

The Next Evolution: Physics-Aware AI

With the introduction of FlexAgent MCP, this workflow becomes even more powerful. More than a chatbot, FlexAgent is a physics-aware AI assistant designed specifically for photonic design, helping users navigate complex tasks, automate workflows, and accelerate iteration with intelligent, context-aware guidance.

 

WHO SHOULD ATTEND

  • Photonic Engineers – Stay current with advanced design tools and achieve better performance, faster.

  • Students – Build simulation and automation skills to accelerate learning and stand out in your career.

  • Faculty – Empower students with modern tools while streamlining research and collaboration.

 

REWARDS FOR ATTENDING

  • Attending a seminar or hackathon gains 💰 50 FlexCredits

  • Submit a result in hackthon gains 💰 100 FlexCredits

  • Run your first simulation (see PhotonForge example library) to earn 💰 50 FlexCredits

  • For new users, install PhotonForge on either Python Client or the GUI to earn 💰 15 FlexCredits
SESSION I

Fabrication-Aware Photonic Design in PhotonForge: From Layout To Simulation

Introduction

In this seminar, we introduce the fundamentals of PhotonForge and walk through how to get started with photonic integrated circuit (PIC) design,  from layout creation to component- and circuit-level simulation. The session follows a complete workflow, illustrating how designs evolve from basic geometries into fully simulated photonic systems.

The seminar also covers how foundry Process Design Kits (PDKs) are integrated within PhotonForge to enable accurate, fabrication-aware modeling, ensuring alignment with real manufacturing constraints. It further demonstrates how to create and customize photonic components, organize them into reusable design libraries, and efficiently reuse them across projects.

In addition, the session showcases the approaches for analyzing and optimizing device performance through parametric design and by studying the impact of fabrication variations.

What you’ll learn

  • Core PIC concepts, including layout, layer stack, and technology setup

  • Create geometries (e.g., Y-splitters) and define simulation ports

  • Designing parametric components like waveguides

  • Building and simulating a full interferometer at the circuit level

  • Using parameterization to model physical effects (e.g., thermal tuning)

  • Load foundry-provided PDKs into PhotonForge

  • Inspect and customize your technology stack for multiple material platforms, Si, SiN, III-V, and TFLN.

  • Build accurate simulation models for PDK components.

  • Develop and optimize custom components compatible with existing fabrication processes.

  • Assess how fabrication variations impact system-level PIC performance. 

Speaker

Prashanta 2

Prashanta Kharel, PhD

Bio: Prash earned his Ph.D. in Physics from Yale University, focusing on nonlinear optics and quantum photonics. He has authored over 20 publications and holds multiple patents. His work bridges photonic device research with scalable chip design and manufacturing. He is currently the Technology Strategist at Flexcompute, where he leads photonic design automation and industry collaborations.

Bohan 1

Bohan Zhang, PhD

Bio: Bohan earned his Ph.D. in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Boston University. His work focuses on inverse design and automation for photonic integrated circuits. He has contributed to advanced design verification, optimization, and simulation tools for photonics, enabling faster and more reliable device development. Bohan is currently a Senior Research Scientist at Flexcompute, where he develops photonic design automation.

SESSION II

Photonic Design Hackthon

Introduction

Turning a photonic concept into a fabrication-ready chip often requires countless iterations and constant switching between tools. At this Hackathon, we remove those barriers so you can focus on what matters most - innovation.

This is your chance to take on a real-world photonic design challenge using a state-of-the-art simulation and design platform. Whether you’re refining a high-performance component or building a complex integrated system, you’ll have access to the same tools shaping the future of photonics.

Choose Your Approach

You can explore the challenge through three powerful workflows:

  • PhotonForge or/and Tidy3D – Design end-to-end in a unified environment, from layout to simulation, without leaving your workspace.

  • FlexAgent MCP – Use a physics-aware AI assistant to automate workflows, debug simulations, and optimize designs through natural language.