Semiconductor photonic integration in UV/Blue wavelength band

Project description

Photonic integration is becoming a key solution for the next-generation information technologies. Compared with the existing technologies in the near-infrared wavelength band, UV/blue light integration is emerging as an attractive subdivision in integrated photonics. With the advantages of a smaller footprint and a larger bandwidth, UV/blue integrated systems hold the promise in the vast applications including, but not limit to, visible light communications, augmented reality (AR)/virtual reality (VR) systems, inter-satellite communications, light detection and ranging (Lidar), high-density data storage, quantum photonic chips, chemical/biological photonic chips, and non Von Neumann photonics.

The objective of this innovative research project is to realize a hybrid system comprising UV/blue light sources fabricated from the third-generation wide band gap semiconductors (group III-nitride materials) and the photonic components based on rapidly developing Si photonics (e.g., waveguides, optical couplers, modulators, detectors).  

The successful candidate will join a cutting-edge research group (http://www.gp-iv-photonics.org/) at Optoelectronics research Centre, the University of Southampton. Within this interdisciplinary project, you will develop solid knowledge and practical skills in semiconductors and photonics. All the work will be carried out at ORC, home to a number of modern cleanrooms and advanced testing labs. The work is mainly composed of following parts, 1) design and fabrication of III-nitride laser diodes; 2) optimization and fabrication of waveguides, photonic couplers and photodetectors; 3) characterization of the electrical and optical properties of both the individual devices and the integrated systems.

If you wish to discuss any details of the project informally, please contact Dr Yaonan Hou (yaonan.hou@soton.ac.uk).

The PhD programme

The zepler institute PhD comprises a solid education for a research career. The structured first year involves attending our training programme running in parallel with carrying out your research project. This provides a smooth transition from your degree course towards the more open-ended research that takes place in the following years under the guidance of your supervisors. We expect the vast majority of our students to present their work at international conferences and to write papers in leading academic journals as their research progresses. Students will emerge from the PhD with skills at the forefront of future photonics and semiconductor research and will benefit from many opportunities to interact with the wider community of PhD students across the Southampton Campus.

The zepler institute is the leading photonics and nanielectronics research institute in the UK and possibly in Europe. It comprises state-of-the-art cleanrooms for optical fibre, planar photonics, silicon and bio-photonics fabrication and over 80 laboratories. Computer simulations will benefit from Southampton’s high performance computing cluster Iridis, one of the largest supercomputers in the UK. A PhD at the ORC has enabled our past graduates to make successful careers in academia, in national scientific laboratories, and as scientists or business leaders in industry. Our research papers, patents, spin-off companies and these successful alumni taken together place Southampton amongst the top institutes worldwide.

Key facts

Entry requirements: First or upper second-class degree or equivalent

Closing date: Applications can be done at any time.

Duration: Typically 3.5 years (full-time)

Funding: https://www.orc.soton.ac.uk/fees-and-funding

Assessment: 9- and 18-month reports, viva voce and thesis examination

Start date: September 2022