COMSOL Multiphysics^® 6.3 Release Highlights

For users of the Wave Optics Module, COMSOL Multiphysics^® version 6.3 simplifies modeling of periodic structures, introduces tools for calculating optical absorption, scattering, and extinction properties, and enhances wave absorption capabilities, allowing scattered waves to be absorbed in any specified direction. Learn more about these updates below.

New Periodic Structure Feature

The new Periodic Structure feature, available as a domain condition in the Electromagnetic Waves, Frequency Domain interface, simplifies the modeling of periodic structures. By adding this feature and selecting the excited port boundary, the necessary ports and periodic conditions are automatically set up. The feature includes settings similar to those used for Periodic port features. The following tutorial models demonstrate this feature:

• acousto_optic_modulator (new)
• frequency_selective_surface_csrr
• fresnel_equations
• hexagonal_grating
• hexagonal_plasmonic_color_filter
• in_plane_switching_liquid_crystal_cell
• metasurface_beam_deflector
• plasmonic_wire_grating
• scatterer_on_substrate

Cross Section Calculation Feature Added to the Electromagnetic Waves, Frequency Domain Interface

The Cross Section Calculation feature has been added to the Electromagnetic Waves, Frequency Domain interface for the scattered field formulation. It allows accurate calculation of scattering, absorption, and extinction cross sections when a plane wave is used as the setting for the Background electric field. The cross-section variables are accessible as global variables for subplot nodes in the Replace Expression menu in the Cross sections category. This feature is demonstrated in the Scatterer on Substrate and Optical Scattering off a Gold Nanosphere tutorial models.

Matched Boundary Condition Added to the Electromagnetic Waves, Frequency Domain Interface

The Matched Boundary Condition feature has been added to the Electromagnetic Waves, Frequency Domain interface, making boundaries transparent to waves with a known scattered direction, minimizing reflections. For scenarios with an incident field, a Reference Point subnode can be used to define the phase of the incident wave. This feature is showcased in the Refraction of Light Through an Optical Prism tutorial model.

New and Updated Tutorial Models

COMSOL Multiphysics^® version 6.3 brings several new and updated tutorial models to the Wave Optics Module.