# PlaneWave
Uniform current distribution on an infinite extent plane. One element of size must be zero.
# Name
name: Optional name for the source.
# Source Region
Specification of the source region.
# Center + size
Object definition through a center position and size.
center: Center of the object in x, y, and z-directions.
Type: floating-point number
- Unit: m, μm (default), or nm
- Default: (0, 0, 0)
size: Size of the object in x, y, and z-directions.
Use Infinity to define a geometry extending to infinity in both directions along an axis.
Type: floating-point number
- Unit: m, μm (default), or nm
- Constraint: greater than or equal to 0
- Required field
# Bounds
Object definition through minimum and maximum coordinate bounds.
min: Values of the x, y, and z coordinates defining the object lower corner.
Type: floating-point number
- Unit: m, μm (default), or nm
- Required field
max: Values of the x, y, and z coordinates defining the object upper corner.
Type: floating-point number
- Unit: m, μm (default), or nm
- Required field
# Direction
direction: Specifies propagation in the positive or negative direction of the injection axis.
Options:
- +: Propogate in the positive direction of the injection axis
- -: Propogate in the negative direction of the injection axis
Required field
# Polar Angle
angle_theta: Polar angle of the propagation axis from the injection axis.
Type: floating-point number
- Unit: rad or degree (default)
- Default: 0
# Azimuth Angle
angle_phi: Azimuth angle of the propagation axis in the plane orthogonal to the injection axis.
Type: floating-point number
- Unit: rad or degree (default)
- Default: 0
# Polarization Angle
pol_angle: Specifies the angle between the electric field polarization of the source and the plane defined by the injection axis and the propagation axis.
- 0 specifies P polarization (default)
- 90 degrees or π/2 rad specifies S polarization
At normal incidence when S and P are undefined, 0 defines:
- Ey polarization for propagation along x
- Ex polarization for propagation along y
- Ex polarization for propagation along z
Type: floating-point number
- Unit: rad or degree (default)
- Default: 0
# Source Time
source_time: Specification of the source time-dependence.
Options:
Required field
# Angular Specification
angular_spec: Specification of plane wave propagation direction dependence on wavelength.
Options:
Fixed in-plane wave vector: Specifies a fixed in-plane wave vector. The plane wave is injected such that its in-plane wavevector is constant. That is, the injected field satisfies Bloch boundary conditions and its propagation direction is frequency dependent.Fixed angle: Specifies a fixed angle of incidence. The plane wave is injected such that its propagation direction is frequency independent. When using this option, the boundary conditions in tangential directions must be set to periodic.
Default: Fixed in-plane wave vector
# Number of Frequency Points
num_freqs: Number of points used to approximate the frequency dependence of the injected field.
Type: integer
- Default: 3
Note: For simulations which are not very broadband and the source is very large (e.g. metalens simulations), decreasing the value to 1 may lead to a speed up in the preprocessing.