Photonics system design increasingly depends on multidisciplinary engineering and co-simulation across multiple physical domains, including photonics, high-speed electronics, RF, electromagnetics, and thermal effects. Although specialized numerical solvers and design tools address each domain individually, bringing device-level models into circuit- and system-level simulations remains challenging. Issues such as model interoperability, computational complexity, and fragmented workflows can reduce design efficiency and make it harder to accurately predict end-to-end system performance.

This session introduces a unified Keysight workflow for modeling and validating advanced technologies from fundamental device physics through complete system operation. The workflow brings together electromagnetic and multiphysics simulation, compact-model generation, photonic integrated circuit (PIC) design, and electrical–optical–electrical (EOE) system simulation.

The session uses a multichannel WDM PAM4 optical link as an application example. It focuses on the design and optimization of photonic devices and components, including modulators, resonators, and filters. It also shows how physics-based simulation results can be converted into reusable compact models. These filter models are then used to implement WDM multiplexers and demultiplexers, which are integrated with electrical PAM4 sources, lasers, optical channels, photodetectors, and receiver circuitry to evaluate end-to-end system performance.