The Finite Element Method (FEM) is a popular tool used by engineers to reduce the number of prototypes and virtual experiments necessary to create a successful design. It uses complex mathematics to create virtual simulations that can realistically test the integrity of a design. As discussed in a previous post, FEM is a numerical solution […]
Photonics engineers rely on optical simulations for their designs. Depending on the optical size of their model geometry, they need to choose the best method for performing these simulations, according to Christopher Boucher, a lead developer at COMSOL, a simulation software. “The concept of optical size is essential to choosing a formulation for numerical simulation […]
Researchers from Tokyo University of Science have developed a new design method that could lead to lighter, faster, and cleaner vehicles and airplanes. Their technique, published in Composite Structures, simultaneously optimizes fiber thickness and orientation. As a result, it reduces the weight of reinforced plastic parts commonly used in aerospace, civil engineering, and sports equipment. […]
Engineers are increasingly embracing computer simulations to test the structural integrity of their prototypes. These computer simulations are based on the finite element method (FEM) and finite element analysis (FEA), which work in unison to give engineers insight into the structural behavior of particular designs, so they can locate weak points and improve them. While […]
MIT engineers recently designed a tunable “metalens” that can zero in on objects at multiple depths. The lens, constructed from a transparent “phase-changing” material capable of rearranging its atomic structure after heating, is capable of transforming how its material interacts with light. The invention is a breakthrough in the field of photonics. Traditionally, changing the […]
In 2020, photonics researchers used the finite element method (FEM) to make a number of exciting discoveries in the field of optics. As discussed in a previous post, FEM is a numerical solution that breaks down a much larger, complex problem into a series of smaller ones (“finite elements”) in order to make the overall […]
The majority of medical, scientific, and industrial applications utilize high-power diode-lasers (HPDLs). Due to the common use of HPDLs, it’s more important than ever to prevent optical and physical malfunctions in high-power laser packages. However, as laser technology has become more advanced, HPDL output power has gotten larger, and with it, the waste-heat energy density […]
Optical lenses are vital components to the manufacturing and labeling of goods. For example, optical lenses are found in electronic devices like smartphones and laptops. They’re also used to make logos and graphics on hardware as well as other kinds of markings commonly found on commercial products and food packaging. These markings are created by […]
Exciting developments are happening in the fields optics and photonics. Some of these innovations are being made with the help of the finite element method (FEM). As discussed in a previous post, FEM is a numerical solution for a complex problem, which is used to create simulations. These simulations help researchers understand how all the […]
The optics and photonics fields are creating groundbreaking applications for astronomy, telecommunications, sensing, chemistry, biomedical research & development. Recently, researchers from Pennsylvania State University demonstrated how metasurfaces with unparalleled controllability of light may be able to transform traditional optics. To do so, they used a simulation that applied the finite element method (FEM). As discussed […]
