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  PhD in Engineering - Germanium on Silicon Single Photon Avalanche Detectors for Quantum Communications


   College of Science and Engineering

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  Prof Douglas Paul  No more applications being accepted  Competition Funded PhD Project (UK Students Only)

About the Project

In this fully funded PhD project you will develop germanium on silicon single photon avalanche diode (SPAD) photodetectors designed for operation in quantum communications systems. The work will be undertaken in the Semiconductor Devices Group at Glasgow which demonstrated the first Ge on Si SPAD photodetectors and more recently record breaking single photon detection efficiencies (see Nature Comms. 10, 1086 (2019)). The group is the global pioneer of these devices and has a significant lead in this silicon-based technology at short wave infrared wavelengths which are essential for a number of quantum technology applications including quantum communications, quantum computing, quantum imaging and single photon lidar.

The work will be supervised by Prof

Douglas Paul (http://userweb.elec.gla.ac.uk/douglas.paul/) who holds a prestigious Royal Academy of Engineering Chair in Emerging Technologies and it is aiming to deliver a new design of Ge on Si SPAD devices which can be easily coupled to optical fibres for use in quantum key distribution and quantum communication test systems. The work will include designing devices, being trained to fabricate devices in the James Watt Nanofabrication Centre combined with characterisation of the devices using electronic and optical techniques. The successful student will be working in a research group with access to the top researchers in academia and industry from the UK Quantum Technology programme and internationally through collaborations. The work is funded by a PhD studentship from the UK Quantum Communications Hub and there will be frequent opportunities to travel to collaborators both in the UK and internationally as well as presenting results and listening to the top researchers at the leading international conferences in the field.

The highly motivated student should have a first class or upper second class undergraduate degree in physics, engineering, photonics, nanotechnology, materials science or an equivalent degree from a reputable university. They will design and simulate SPADs, fabricate them in the James Watt Nanofabrication Centre and undertake testing to determine the performance. The project will allow the student to learn new skills and work in a vibrant research group of multidisciplinary researchers. The student will engage with collaborators in the UK Quantum Communications Hub and UK industry to understand the end user performance requirements as well as to test successfully developed devices in real systems. The skills acquired during the PhD will make the student highly employable either in academia or industry in the developing global quantum technology field where there is already a significant and growing demand for suitably qualified expert people. Previous PhD graduate students of Prof Paul hold a range of research fellowships, senior academic positions as well as senior positions in companies including ARM, Kelvin Nanotechnology, Sivers Photonics, Dixons Carphone, patent lawyers and multiple financial investment companies.

How to Apply: Please refer to the following website for details on how to apply: http://www.gla.ac.uk/research/opportunities/howtoapplyforaresearchdegree/.

Computer Science (8) Engineering (12) Physics (29)

Funding Notes

Funding is available to cover tuition fees for UK applicants for 3.5 years, as well as paying a stipend at the Research Council rate (estimated £15,840, for Session 2022-23).

Where will I study?