About the project
Integrated photonic circuits need compact interconnects that can route light around bends and between components without being constrained by a periodic layout. This project will develop freeform photonic routing based on nearly hyperuniform disordered structures, creating pathway-first design rules for low-loss, scalable optical interconnects with arbitrary geometries.
Conventional photonic-crystal waveguides are strongly constrained by the symmetry directions of the underlying lattice. Recent work has demonstrated a different strategy: prescribe the desired optical path first, then construct a nearly hyperuniform photonic environment around it to provide bandgap-assisted confinement. This pathway-first approach has already enabled curved and right-angle interconnects with low transmission loss in simulations and experiments.
The project will develop this proof of concept into a more general design platform for integrated photonic routing. You will investigate how local structural order, photonic pseudo-bandgaps, light-line constraints, modal evolution, slow-light effects and disorder-induced scattering determine the transmission and robustness of freeform interconnects. Large-scale finite-difference time-domain simulations and band-structure calculations will be combined with geometry-based optimisation. Artificial intelligence will be used to accelerate the exploration of complex routing geometries, learn transferable design rules and identify low-loss architectures beyond what can be efficiently searched by conventional parameter sweeps.
The longer-term goal is to move from individual bends to scalable families of interconnects and routing networks that can connect photonic components at arbitrary positions and orientations. Selected designs will be realised and characterised in close collaboration with experimental partners, providing direct feedback between modelling, fabrication and measurement. The project will also explore applications in compact high-density photonic circuitry, including photonic implementations of neuromorphic computing, where flexible and scalable optical connectivity is a key enabling requirement.
The research programme will focus on:
- developing algorithms that generate nearly hyperuniform dielectric networks around user-defined optical paths, supported by AI-assisted design and optimisation
- mapping low-loss spectral windows and quantify bend, radiation and disorder-induced losses
- designing and optimise bends, junctions and multi-port routing elements while preserving modal confinement
- establishing scalable design rules for larger circuits, test robustness to fabrication imperfections, and work with experimental collaborators to realise and characterise selected freeform routing designs
The School of Optoelectronics (ORC) is committed to promoting equality, diversity inclusivity as demonstrated by our Athena SWAN award. We welcome all applicants regardless of their gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation or age, and will give full consideration to applicants seeking flexible working patterns and those who have taken a career break. The University has a generous maternity policy, onsite childcare facilities, and offers a range of benefits to help ensure employees’ well-being and work-life balance. The University of Southampton is committed to sustainability and has been awarded the Platinum EcoAward.
