Always run the "Check Geometry" tool (found under Simulation > Validate ) before hitting run. The manual notes that 70% of simulation crashes originate from overlapping vertices or zero-width layers.
The RSoft CAD is much more than a drawing tool; it is the central nervous system of the industry-leading RSoft Photonic Device Tools suite. For the photonics engineer, device designer, or researcher, the RSoft CAD manual is an essential companion, transforming complex software into a powerful and efficient instrument. By mastering the concepts and workflows detailed within—from the creation of basic waveguides using the symbol table and material libraries to advanced techniques like dynamic arrays and GDS import/export—you unlock the ability to design, simulate, and optimize virtually any passive photonic device with accuracy and speed.
The manual is typically organized into sections covering the setup of photonic structures and the execution of simulations: Installation and system requirements. Physical conventions (e.g., units, coordinate systems). GUI vs. CLI operation and log file management. Chapter 2: Background Overview of technical capabilities. Mathematical foundations, such as Maxwell’s Equations. Design & Layout (Chapters 3-9) rsoft cad manual
Most read the manual for commands, but the contains:
This chapter is essential for creating physically accurate simulations. It details how to: Always run the "Check Geometry" tool (found under
RSoft supports standard mathematical operators and functions.You can use expressions directly inside your parameter fields: pi : Standard constant. sin() , cos() , tan() : Trigonometric functions. sqrt() : Square root functions.
If the simulation stalls at "Meshing vertices..." – The manual’s troubleshooting section instructs you to check for overlapping vertices using Edit > Cleanup > Remove Duplicate Points . For the photonics engineer, device designer, or researcher,
Designing a device in RSoft starts with defining its physical properties within the CAD interface. Material Library:
Launch Conditions: Users define the input light source, such as a Gaussian beam, a fiber mode, or a plane wave. The launch position and direction are visually represented in the CAD layout.Monitors: These are virtual sensors placed within the design to record data. Power monitors measure transmission and reflection, while slice monitors capture the spatial distribution of the electromagnetic field at specific cross-sections.Grid and Mesh: The CAD provides tools to define the computational grid. Users can choose between uniform meshing or non-uniform (sub-gridding) to resolve fine structural details while maintaining efficiency. Data Analysis and Integration
Users can import external text files containing experimental data vs. wavelength. Anisotropic and Electro-Optic Profiles
The official product page for obtaining the latest documentation and technical support. BeamPROP 8.3