Smart algorithms and smart design tools

Even though James Clerk Maxwell derived his famous set of equations around the year 1865, solving them to accurately predict the behaviour of light remains a challenge. In the design of photonic integrated circuits, which are used as chemical or biological sensors and as chips for fiber-optic communication systems, simulation of light on a micro-scale is of utmost importance. However, the complexity of modern devices is such that full, direct simulation is impossible – hence there is a need for smart algorithms and smart design tools.