Optical Simulation Software Offered Free to Universities

Optiwave Systems Inc. is offering its optical component and system design software free to universities in the U.S. and Canada.

The Free for Academics program includes a free, one-user lease of OptiSuite, which comprises all six of the company's software tools: OptiSystem, OptiSPICE, OptiFDTD, OptiBPM, OptiGrating and OptiFiber.

The program also includes suggested lab assignments that cover topics ranging from the fundamentals of optical fiber design to the optimization of advanced modulation systems. The assignments are publicly available and come with corresponding answer guides that may be accessed by professors.

"Our ultimate goal is to help optics and photonics students receive the best education possible, and it's our belief that this program is a major step towards achieving that," said Bryan Tipper, Optiwave's vice president of sales and marketing. "Students will have the opportunity to get acquainted with industry-level software, better preparing them for the workforce upon graduation."

The company hopes to expand the Free for Academics program to universities other countries, Tipper said.

For more information, email info@optiwave.com.