Supervisory Team: Dr Peter Horak, Prof Radan Slavik, Dr Natalie Wheeler
Project description
We are looking for a PhD student to join our team on a project which aims to push the limits of what is possible with optical fibres by evacuating novel hollow-core optical fibres. Your project can focus on developing theoretical and numerical models or the experimental aspects or a mixture of both.
Hollow-core optical fibres guide light in a central hole inside a silica microstructure. These newly developed fibres exceed traditional solid fibres used in the past 40 years in every metric: lower attenuation, nonlinearity, latency, and better high-power laser transmission. However, the central hole where light is transmitted is typically filled with air and for several applications even air limits the fibre performance.
We have recently been awarded funding to investigate techniques to overcome these limits by removing the air from the core, that is, by evacuating the fibres. We will:
- investigate, both theoretically and experimentally, techniques for evacuation (which is not straightforward for km-length fibres);
- develop tools and methods to measure the gas pressure distribution;
- study how these evacuated fibres can push the limits of what is possible with optical fibres.
Finally, we aim to use these fibres to demonstrate, for example, new record laser power delivery in fibres, interferometers with the minimum possible noise added by the fibre (of interest, e.g., for ultra-sensitive detection of gravitational waves), and transmission at wavelengths where air-filled hollow-core fibres or standard fibres have too strong absorption.
In this PhD project you will either develop simulations of the various evacuation and characterisation methods or build set-ups based on such designs or combine both. This will mainly include optical methods exploiting linear and nonlinear laser pulse propagation in such fibres where the hollow core exhibits a non-uniform and (during evacuation) time-dependent air pressure. Additionally, you may investigate the pressure-driven gas flow inside these novel fibres. You can also choose to use the evacuated fibres with one of the applications they enable, as discussed above. Independently of what you choose, your work will be in close collaboration with our fabrication, theoretical, and experimental teams.
If you have an interest in optical fibres, their physics, and their applications, you would be highly suitable for this project. You will benefit from the world-leading expertise in these fields at the ORC and work in a supportive group of like-minded researchers, leading you to a PhD in an exciting new area of physics and technology.
Entry Requirements
A very good undergraduate degree (at least a UK 2:1 honours degree, or its international equivalent).
Closing date: Applications are accepted throughout the year and several start dates throughout the year are possible. Applications for the typical Sept./Oct. 2023 start should be received no later than 31 August 2023.
Funding: For UK students, Tuition Fees and stipend of £20,000 p.a. up-to 3.5 years.
How To Apply
Apply online: PhD Application | Research | University of Southampton. Select programme type (Research), 2023/24, Faculty of Physical Sciences and Engineering, next page select “PhD ORC (Full time)”. In Section 2 of the application form you should insert the name of the supervisor Peter Horak
Applications should include:
Curriculum Vitae
Two reference letters
Degree Transcripts/Certificates to date
For further information please contact: [Email Address Removed]
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