Explore resources and tools available to IOS members, including software access, calculators, and references to support optics research.
Light Conversion Optics Toolbox
The Light Conversion Optics Toolbox provides free online calculators and reference tools to support experiment planning and analysis in optics. Categories include:
- Converters – unit conversion, bandwidth, and pulse length tools
- Nonlinear optics – phase matching, sum frequency generation, B-integral
- Refraction – refractive index, prism refraction, lens radius
- Reflection & diffraction – Fresnel reflection, diffraction angles, grating calculator
- Dispersion calculators – prism and grating compressors, pulse elongation
- Beam properties – intensity, fluence, displacement, Gaussian beam propagation
- Other tools – optical table planner, tuning curves, laser harmonic generation charts
MEEP
Meep is a free, open-source software package for simulating electromagnetic systems using the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method.
It supports a broad range of applications, from photonic crystals to waveguides and resonators.
Key features:
- Free and open-source under the GNU GPL
- Complete scriptability via Python, Scheme, or C++ APIs
- Simulation in 1D, 2D, 3D, and cylindrical coordinates
- Parallel computing with MPI on Linux, macOS, and FreeBSD
- Library of material types, including dispersive and nonlinear media
- Built-in analysis tools for spectra, resonant modes, field patterns, and scattering
- Visualization routines for geometries, fields, and results
SNLO
SNLO is widely-used, free software developed by Dr. Arlee Smith for modeling nonlinear optical processes.
It runs natively on Windows and includes data for over 50 nonlinear crystals.
Highlights:
- Tools to assist with crystal selection and performance modeling
- Examples and exercises available in Crystal Nonlinear Optics: with SNLO Examples (2nd ed.)
- Expanded resources, including help documentation, introduction notes, and a bibliography covering 150+ crystals and 1000+ papers
- Current version: 80 (January 22, 2025)
Synopsys Software Access - Coming soon!
IOS members and their students may request access to Synopsys for research use. Please note the following requirements:
- Student requests must be submitted through an affiliated professor.
- Mentor support: A supporting letter from the student’s mentor is required.
- Mentor eligibility: Mentors must be active IOS members.
- Research reporting: Synopsys may request information about research conducted using the software.
For access, please contact David Nippa (nippa.2@osu.edu) and include the information outlined above.
