About the project
Integrated photonics is key for the development of Quantum photonic integrated circuits (QPIC). Typical quantum systems are large and expensive, and thus cannot be easily scaled into products. QPICs provide a route for the realization of high performance, cost-effective and reliable quantum devices that will enable the application of quantum technologies in real-world settings. As such, QPIC technology has the potential to transform a variety of fields including information processing, communications, computation, sensing and metrology.
To achieve this potential, photonic integrated technologies need to fulfil the breadth of requirements of quantum technologies in terms of material platforms and devices. The aim of this project is to develop the next generation photonic integrated platform that will offer low optical losses over the broad range of wavelengths within the UV-NIR spectrum required for quantum applications. This platform will enable the realisation of QPICs that will underpin emerging applications such as trapped-ion computers, quantum communications and quantum sensing.
We are looking for a committed candidate to join our team to achieve this goal. You will explore a variety of materials with potential for UV-NIR operation and you will build upon demonstrated fabrication techniques to optimize their properties to achieve low propagation losses at the target wavelengths. You will also design, fabricate and measure passive photonic integrated circuits (i.e., waveguides, optical coupler, demultiplexers) to create a component library for the development of complex quantum photonic systems. Candidates can expect to develop computational, fabrication and experimental skills throughout the project. In particular, they will gain strong semiconductor processing skills by getting trained in the equipment of our state-of-the-art cleanroom facilities.
You will become a member of the Group IV Photonics team in the Silicon Photonics group at the Optoelectronics Research Centre, University of Southampton. You will work closely with enthusiastic researchers with strong track record in the development of silicon photonic integrated devices/systems and you will develop a solid knowledge and practical skills in semiconductor compatible materials and photonics. You will also collaborate with international and national researchers to demonstrate advance Quantum devices.
The research will be carried out in the Zepler Institute, which is the leading photonics and nanoelectronics research institute in the UK. 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.
