diff --git a/python/examples/mode-decomposition.py b/python/examples/mode-decomposition.py
index f3a8912fc..1dd09d689 100644
--- a/python/examples/mode-decomposition.py
+++ b/python/examples/mode-decomposition.py
@@ -76,20 +76,16 @@ def main(args):
                         sources=sources,
                         symmetries=symmetries)
 
-    xm = -0.5*sx + dpml + 0.5*Lw; # x-coordinate of monitor
-    mflux = sim.add_flux(fcen, 0, 1, mp.FluxRegion(center=mp.Vector3(xm,0), size=mp.Vector3(0,sy-2*dpml)));
+    xm = -0.5*sx + dpml + 0.5*Lw  # x-coordinate of monitor
+    mflux = sim.add_eigenmode(fcen, 0, 1, mp.FluxRegion(center=mp.Vector3(xm,0), size=mp.Vector3(0,sy-2*dpml)))
 
     sim.run(until_after_sources=mp.stop_when_fields_decayed(50, mp.Ez, mp.Vector3(xm,0), 1e-10))
 
-    bands = np.array([1],dtype=np.int32) # indices of modes for which to compute expansion coefficients
-    num_bands = 1;
-    alpha = np.zeros(2*num_bands,dtype=np.complex128) # preallocate array to store coefficients
-    vgrp = np.zeros(num_bands,dtype=np.float64)       # also store mode group velocities
-    mvol = mp.volume(mp.vec(xm,-0.5*sy+dpml),mp.vec(xm,+0.5*sy-dpml))
-    sim.fields.get_eigenmode_coefficients(mflux, mp.X, mvol, bands, alpha, vgrp)
+    bands = [1]  # indices of modes for which to compute expansion coefficients
+    alpha = sim.get_eigenmode_coefficients(mflux, bands)
 
-    alpha0Plus  = alpha[2*0 + 0]; # coefficient of forward-traveling fundamental mode
-    alpha0Minus = alpha[2*0 + 1]; # coefficient of backward-traveling fundamental mode
+    alpha0Plus  = alpha[2*0 + 0]  # coefficient of forward-traveling fundamental mode
+    alpha0Minus = alpha[2*0 + 1]  # coefficient of backward-traveling fundamental mode
 
     print("refl:, {}, {:.8f}".format(Lt, abs(alpha0Minus)**2))
 
diff --git a/python/meep.i b/python/meep.i
index d3e6f59cf..8f3896c03 100644
--- a/python/meep.i
+++ b/python/meep.i
@@ -623,13 +623,6 @@ meep::volume_list *make_volume_list(const meep::volume &v, int c,
     $1 = (std::complex<double> *)array_data($input);
 }
 
-%typecheck(SWIG_TYPECHECK_POINTER, fragment="NumPy_Fragments") double* vgrp {
-    $1 = is_array($input);
-}
-
-%typemap(in, fragment="NumPy_Macros") double* vgrp {
-    $1 = (double *)array_data($input);
-}
 //--------------------------------------------------
 // end typemaps for get_eigenmode_coefficients
 //--------------------------------------------------
diff --git a/python/simulation.py b/python/simulation.py
index 3e128938e..a72787937 100644
--- a/python/simulation.py
+++ b/python/simulation.py
@@ -760,6 +760,8 @@ def add_flux(self, fcen, df, nfreq, *fluxes):
 
         return self._add_fluxish_stuff(self.fields.add_dft_flux, fcen, df, nfreq, fluxes)
 
+    add_eigenmode = add_flux
+
     def display_fluxes(self, *fluxes):
         display_csv(self, 'flux', zip(get_flux_freqs(fluxes[0]), *[get_fluxes(f) for f in fluxes]))
 
@@ -929,6 +931,16 @@ def get_dft_array(self, dft_obj, component, num_freq):
         else:
             raise ValueError("Invalid type of dft object: {}".format(dft_obj))
 
+    def get_eigenmode_coefficients(self, flux, bands):
+        if self.fields is None:
+            raise ValueError("Fields must be initialized before calling get_eigenmode_coefficients")
+
+        num_bands = len(bands)
+        coeffs = np.zeros(2 * num_bands, dtype=np.complex128)
+        self.fields.get_eigenmode_coefficients(flux, np.array(bands, dtype=np.intc), coeffs, None)
+
+        return coeffs
+
     def output_field_function(self, name, cs, func, real_only=False, h5file=None):
         if self.fields is None:
             raise RuntimeError("Fields must be initialized before calling output_field_function")