Photonic, Electronic & Plasmonic Microstructured Optical Fibres

Advanced technological applications demand high performance devices, which in turn require exceptional materials. Focussing on the fundamental materials research and development necessary to move this innovation beyond the laboratory to next-generation photonic devices and systems the group have already developed and patented an innovative technique towards purely fibre based systems.

A fibre based system is preferable as it avoids the use of heterogeneous, discrete optoelectronic components to transform in-fibre photonic signals to chip-based electronic signals which is complex and high in cost.

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PhD Projects:

Microstructured optical fibres as templates for the deposition of functional materials

Supervisor: Dr Pier Sazio

The age of optical communications has been enabled by two key materials and technology breakthroughs: low loss silica optical fibre waveguides and semiconductor based optoelectronics ranging from solid state lasers to modulators and detectors on planar chips. These two technologies, one fibre based and one planar chip based have to be interfaced via intermediate optics. However, imagine now if we could combine the flexible light guiding ability of fibres with the rich optoelectronic functionality of semiconductors in an integrated fibre geometry.

This project seeks to advance our exciting recent materials breakthrough and will span the remit between cleanroom based, fibre impregnation technology for the manufacture of advanced photonic devices for analysis in our fully equipped characterization laboratories. This project would be thus be suitable for a candidate with a strong materials and/or chemistry related background.

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