Rigorous coupled-wave analysis

Rigorous coupled-wave analysis (RCWA) is a semi-analytical method in computational electromagnetics that is most typically applied to solve scattering from periodic dielectric structures. It is a Fourier-space method so devices and fields are represented as a sum of spatial harmonics. The method is based on the Floquet's theorem that the solutions of periodic differential equations can be expanded with Floquet functions (or sometimes referred as Bloch wave, especially in solid-state physics community). A device is divided into layers that are each uniform in the z direction. A staircase approximation is needed for curved devices. The electromagnetic modes in each layer are calculated and analytically propagated through the layers. The overall problem is solved by matching boundary conditions at each of the interfaces between the layers using a technique like scattering matrices. To solve the electromagnetic mode, decided by the wave vector of the incident plane wave, in periodic dielectric medium, the Maxwell's equations (in partial differential form) as well as the boundary conditions are expanded by the Floquet functions and turned into infinitely large algebra equations. With the cutting off of higher order Floquet functions, depending on the accuracy and convergence speed one needs, the infinitely large algebra equations become finite and thus solvable by computers.

Being a Fourier-space method it suffers several drawbacks. Gibbs phenomenon is particularly severe for devices with high dielectric contrast. Truncating the number of spatial harmonics can also slow convergence and techniques like fast Fourier factorization (FFF) should be used. FFF is straightforward to implement for 1D gratings, but the community is still working on a straightforward approach for crossed grating devices. The difficulty with FFF in crossed grating devices is that the field must be decomposed into parallel and perpendicular components at all of the interfaces. This is not a straightforward calculation for arbitrarily shaped devices.

Boundary conditions must be enforced at the interfaces between all the layers. When many layers are used, this becomes too large to solve simultaneously. Instead, we borrow from network theory and calculate scattering matrices. This lets us solve the boundary conditions one layer at a time. Almost without exception, however, the scattering matrices implemented for RCWA are inefficient and do not follow long standing conventions in terms of how S11, S12, S21, and S22 are defined. A paper was recently published that identified this problem and presented a correct and efficient formulation of scattering matrices for both RCWA and the method of lines. See S-matrices. Further, it should be noted that other methods exist like the enhanced transmittance matrices (ETM), R matrices, H matrices, and probably more. ETM, for example, is considerably faster but less memory efficient.

Example implementations

• RawDog
• RODIS
• EMpy
• MRCWA
• S4
• Unigit (RCWA, Rayleigh–Fourier & C-method)

References

• M. G. Moharam and T. K. Gaylord, "Rigorous coupled-wave analysis of planar-grating diffraction," J. Opt. Soc. Am. 71, 811-818 (1981)
• Improved Formulation of Scattering Matrices for Semi-Analytical Methods That is Consistent with Convention
• See Chapter 6 in Design and Optimization of Nano-Optical Elements by Coupling Fabrication to Optical Behavior
• Rigorous Coupled-Wave Analysis (see and listen to lectures 19-21)
• EM Lab Poster on RCWA