A scheme for simulating multi-level phase change photonics materials

Abstract Chalcogenide phase change materials (PCMs) have been extensively applied in data storage, and they are now being proposed for high resolution displays, holographic reprogrammable photonics, all-optical neural networks. These wide-ranging applications all exploit the radical property contrast between PCMs’ different structural phases, extremely fast switching speed, long-term stability, low energy consumption. Designing PCM photonic devices requires an accurate model to predict response of device during transitions. Here, we describe approach that accurately predicts microstructure optical laser induced heating. The framework couples Gillespie Cellular Automata modelling transitions with effective medium theory Fresnel equations. accuracy is verified by comparing PCM’s evolution results nanosecond experiments. We anticipate this simulating PCMs will become important component designing programmable photonics devices. method particularly predicting multi-level PCMs, which networks PCM-programmable perceptrons.