The Materials Database allows you to manage (create, modify, delete) the materials that are available for use in your simulations.
The Materials Database allows for the definition of complex materials using experimental data or parametrized models. The Material Database stores the material data to be used in the simulation. It also provides an interface to change material properties like color, mesh order, and model parameters. Experimental data can also be loaded into the database. To view the refractive index as a function of frequency, use the Material Explorer.
Default Material Database
The default optical material database includes refractive index data for a number of common materials. When creating a new simulation, the default database will be loaded. The default materials cannot be edited directly. However, if you wish to modify one of the default materials, a copy of the material needs to be created, which can then be edited.
Materials in the default material database
The following materials are included in the default material database.
Handbook of Optical Constants of Solids I - III by E. Palik
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Ag (Silver) |
Handbook of Optical Constants of Solids I - III by E. Palik |
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Al (Aluminum) |
Handbook of Optical Constants of Solids I - III by E. Palik |
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Al2O3 (Aluminum Oxide) |
Handbook of Optical Constants of Solids I - III by E. Palik |
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Au (Gold) |
Handbook of Optical Constants of Solids I - III by E. Palik |
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Cr (Chromium) |
Handbook of Optical Constants of Solids I - III by E. Palik |
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Cu (Copper) |
Handbook of Optical Constants of Solids I - III by E. Palik |
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Fe (Iron) |
Handbook of Optical Constants of Solids I - III by E. Palik |
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GaAs (Gallium Arsenide) |
Handbook of Optical Constants of Solids I - III by E. Palik |
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Ge (Germanium) |
Handbook of Optical Constants of Solids I - III by E. Palik |
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H2O (Water) |
Handbook of Optical Constants of Solids I - III by E. Palik |
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In (Indium) |
Handbook of Optical Constants of Solids I - III by E. Palik |
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InAs (Indium Arsenide) |
Handbook of Optical Constants of Solids I - III by E. Palik |
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InP (Indium Phosphide) |
Handbook of Optical Constants of Solids I - III by E. Palik |
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Ni (Nickel) |
Handbook of Optical Constants of Solids I - III by E. Palik |
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Pd (Palladium) |
Handbook of Optical Constants of Solids I - III by E. Palik |
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Pt (Platinum) |
Handbook of Optical Constants of Solids I - III by E. Palik |
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Rh (Rhodium) |
Handbook of Optical Constants of Solids I - III by E. Palik |
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Si (Silicon) |
Handbook of Optical Constants of Solids I - III by E. Palik |
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SiO2 (Glass) |
Handbook of Optical Constants of Solids I - III by E. Palik |
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Sn (Tin) |
Handbook of Optical Constants of Solids I - III by E. Palik |
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Ti (Titanium) |
Handbook of Optical Constants of Solids I - III by E. Palik |
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TiN (Titanium Nitride) |
Handbook of Optical Constants of Solids I - III by E. Palik |
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W (Tungsten) |
Handbook of Optical Constants of Solids I - III by E. Palik |
CRC Handbook of Chemistry & Physics
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Ag (Silver) |
Hagemann, H. J., Gudat, W., and Kunz, C., J. Opt. Soc. Am., 65, 742, 1975 |
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Al (Aluminum) |
Shiles, E., Sasaki, T., Inokuti, M., and Smith, D. Y., Phys. Rev. Sect. B, 22, 1612, 1980 |
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Au (Gold) |
Olson, C. G., Lynch, D. W., and Weaver, J. H., unpublished |
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Cr (Chromium) |
Bos, L. W., and Lynch, D. W., Phys. Rev. Sect. B, 2, 4567, 1970 |
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Cu (Copper) |
Hagemann, H. J., Gudat, W., and Kunz, C., J. Opt. Soc. Am., 65, 742, 1975 |
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Fe (Iron) |
Weaver, J. H., Colavita, E., Lynch, D. W., and Rosei, R., Phys. Rev. Sect. B, 19, 3850, 1979 |
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Ge (Germanium) |
Potter, R. F., in HOC-I, p.465 |
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Ni (Nickel) |
Lynch, D. W., Rosei, R., and Weaver, J. H., Solid State Commun., 9, 2195, 1971 |
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Ta (Tantalum) |
Weaver, J. H., Lynch, D. W., and Olson, D. G., Phys. Rev. Sect. B, 10, 501, 1973 |
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Ti (Titanium) |
Johnson, P. B., and Christy, R. W., Phys. Rev. Sect. B, 9, 5056, 1974 |
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V (Vanadium) |
Olson, C. G., Lynch, D. W., and Weaver, J. H., unpublished |
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W (Tungsten)
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Weaver, J. H., Lynch, D. W., and Olson, C. G., Phys. Rev. Sect. B, 12, 1293, 1975 |
Johnson and Christy
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Ag (Silver) |
Johnson and Christy, "Optical Constants of Noble metals", Phys Rev B, 6, 4370, (1972) |
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Au (Gold) |
Johnson and Christy, "Optical Constants of Noble metals", Phys Rev B, 6, 4370, (1972) |
Other
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PEC (Perfect Electrical Conductor) |
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C (graphene) - Falkovsky (mid-IR) |
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Graphene |
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Si3N4 (Silicon Nitride) - Phillip |
H. R. Philipp. Optical properties of silicon nitride, J. Electrochim. Soc. 120, 295-300 (1973) |
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Si3N4 (Silicon Nitride) - Kischkat |
J. Kischkat et al, Appl. Opt. 51, 6789-6798 (2012) |
Modifying the default material database
These instructions describe how to create a new Default material database. To modify the default materials that appear when you create a new simulation:
1. Locate the defaults sub-directory of the installation. By default it will be located at:
- Windows: C:\Program Files\Lumerical\<version>\defaults
- Linux: /opt/lumerical/<version>/defaults
- Mac: /Applications/Lumerical/<version>.app /Contents/Applications/FDTD\ Solutions.app/Contents/Resources/defaults
2. Copy the default simulation file to your desktop. Optionally, you may also want to make a backup of this file.
3. Open the file on your desktop and make all required modifications to the material database in this file. This might include deleting unused materials and creating new materials.
4. Copy this file back into the defaults sub-directory. This generally requires Administrator access.
5. Next time you start the product, the updated material database should appear automatically.
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Notes:
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will indicate that the material can be modified but not erased. To delete these materials, first modify the simulation so they are not used.See Also
Material Explorer, Getting material data from the database, Modifying material fits, Creating anisotropic materials, Material permittivity models, Advanced material models (plugins)