How do I simulate a photonic crystal?

Open this page and use the live Fiber Optics tool below — set your inputs and the simulation runs instantly in your browser using real numerics. No install, no account needed.

Yes. The simulation runs free in your browser. A one-time unlock or a Pro plan adds advanced parameters, saved presets, data import, and clean exports.

Can I use my own numbers?

Absolutely — every input is adjustable, and with data import you can drive a photonic crystal from your own measurements.

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Fiber Optics for a photonic crystal

Simulate a photonic crystal live in your browser. This runs the real Fiber Optics solver — adjust the inputs, watch it respond instantly, and export the result. No install, no account.

For:Students Researchers Educators Engineers Hobbyists & Makers K-12 Students First Responders

Fiber OpticsLive

total internal reflection

Controls

Presets

Core index n₁

Cladding index n₂

Core diameter (µm)

An optical fiber traps light in a high-index core surrounded by lower-index cladding: rays hitting the boundary above the critical angle undergo total internal reflection and bounce down the fiber for kilometers. The numerical aperture sets the acceptance cone, and the core size decides whether it carries one mode (single-mode, for long-haul) or many (multimode).

▶ Run in Python

Data Inspector

Critical angle80.6°

Numerical aperture0.242

Acceptance angle14.0°

Fiber typemultimode (~423)

Governing equation

N A = n_{1}^{2} - n_{2}^{2} = 1.48 0^{2} - 1.46 0^{2} = 0.242

Reading this result: Rays steeper than the 80.6° critical angle reflect and stay trapped; here V = 29.1 allows ~423 modes, so this behaves as multimode fiber — cheap and easy to launch, but modal dispersion caps the bandwidth.

Runs locally in your browser — free forever. Scale to the cloud when reality gets heavy.

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About this simulation

The full Fiber Optics tool models a photonic crystal with the same numerics engineers and scientists use — running entirely client-side. Change any parameter and the result updates in real time, so you can build intuition, check a design, or teach the concept without spreadsheets or installs.

More you can do with Fiber Optics

Fiber Optics for a camera lens Fiber Optics for a laser beam Fiber Optics for a fiber-optic cable Fiber Optics for a microscope Fiber Optics for a telescope Fiber Optics for a prism Fiber Optics for a rainbow Fiber Optics for a hologram

Other ways to simulate a photonic crystal

Snell's Law for a photonic crystal Diffraction Grating for a photonic crystal Curved Mirrors for a photonic crystal Prism Dispersion for a photonic crystal Laser Cavity for a photonic crystal Gaussian Beam for a photonic crystal

Frequently asked questions

How do I simulate a photonic crystal?: Open this page and use the live Fiber Optics tool below — set your inputs and the simulation runs instantly in your browser using real numerics. No install, no account needed.
Is it free?: Yes. The simulation runs free in your browser. A one-time unlock or a Pro plan adds advanced parameters, saved presets, data import, and clean exports.
Can I use my own numbers?: Absolutely — every input is adjustable, and with data import you can drive a photonic crystal from your own measurements.