{
  "abstract": "We present an end-to-end design methodology for multimode interferometer (MMI)-based photonic devices that combines parameter optimization (PO) on analytical models with seeded topology optimization (TO) to maximize performance while preserving foundry design-rule compliance. A PO seed device is further refined via seeded TO, accessing a larger design space than analytical or parameterized methods alone can reach. We validate this pipeline on a 1x2 splitter, a TE modal multiplexer, and a polarization splitter, with the first two fabricated on a commercial foundry process and measured. Seeded TO reduces the measured insertion loss of the 1x2 splitter from 0.20 to 0.14 dB and improves the back-to-back TE00 transmission of the modal multiplexer from -2.38 to -0.99 dB over 1274-1326 nm. Applying this pipeline to a commercial foundry process design kit (PDK)-provided 1x2 and 2x2 splitters improve measured transmission and bring the measured 2x2 splitting ratio from 0.520 to 0.499, along with improved simulated fabrication robustness, offering a practical, foundry-validated route toward incorporating TO-designed components into commercial PDKs.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [],
  "article_type": null,
  "arxiv": "2608.18308",
  "author_total": 5,
  "authors": [
    {
      "name": "Jacob M. Hiesener"
    },
    {
      "name": "Archana Kaushalram"
    },
    {
      "name": "Joshua J. Wong"
    },
    {
      "name": "Robert P. Pesch"
    },
    {
      "name": "Stephen E. Ralph"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/9029c7361q083.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.48550/arxiv.2608.18308",
  "fulltext_url": null,
  "id": "9029c7361q083",
  "issns": [],
  "landing_url": "https://arxiv.org/abs/2608.18308",
  "language": null,
  "licence": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "licence_label": "CC BY 4.0",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": "CC0-1.0",
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "arxiv",
      "physics.optics"
    ],
    [
      "openalex",
      "2205|Topology Optimization in Engineering"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7203928185",
  "pdf_url": "https://arxiv.org/pdf/2608.18308",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-10-23",
  "publisher": null,
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/9029c7361q083.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:35:15Z",
      "native_id": "2608.18308",
      "source": "arxiv",
      "url": "https://arxiv.org/abs/2608.18308"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "physics",
      "origin": "arxiv:physics.optics",
      "subfield": "optics-photonics"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Toward Topology-Optimized Foundry PDKs: A Seeded Design Framework for Multimode Interferometers",
  "title_text": "Toward Topology-Optimized Foundry PDKs: A Seeded Design Framework for Multimode Interferometers",
  "type": "preprint",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:35:15Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/9029c7361q083",
  "venue": "arXiv",
  "versions": []
}