PhD Studentship: Silicon Photonics based novel optoelectronic circuit for short-reach communication

Optoelectronics Research Centre

Location: Highfield Campus

Closing Date:  Wednesday 31 May 2017

Reference: 864017EH

PhD Studentship: Silicon Photonics based novel optoelectronic circuit for short-reach communication system

Supervisor: Prof. Graham Reed

Co-Supervisor: Dr. Ke Li;

Co-Supervisor: Dr. Dave Thomson;

Silicon Photonics is currently one of the most buoyant photonic research fields driven mainly by applications in optical interconnect, particularly in short reach communication system. Despite significant progress recently, current research work mainly focuses on the performance enhancement of certain optical devices or an integrated transceivers, which may target higher throughput, lower optical loss and better power efficiency. Differing from these traditional research targets, this project aims to investigate new architectures of photonics-aided digital to analogue converters with the highest achievable fidelity and bandwidth, which can potentially a revolutionary change the structure and physical size of existing short reach communication systems.

The project will investigate the realization of such photonics-aided digital to analogue converters. It will involve design of a microelectronic CMOS chip (28nm HKMG CMOS) and photonic devices using commercial and in-house photonics and electronics simulation packages; fabrication of the optical devices will be carried out in the state-of-the-art Zepler Institute Cleanroom Facilities (http://www.zeplerinstitute.com/facilities) at the University of Southampton, UK, and characterisation of the fabricated devices in the silicon photonics laboratories. The project  will also involve integration of both passive and active photonic devices, interdisciplinary work within the Silicon Photonics Group at the Optoelectronics Research Centre (ORC), Southampton, and interaction with our academic and industrial collaborators.

A fully funded PhD place on this project is available for UK applicants. Students from overseas who have secured external funding are also welcome to apply. Students with a background in electrical and electronic engineering, physics, materials science and an interest in photonics would be a good fit to this exciting project area. In addition to experimental work, micro-electronic design and data-analysis will be key aspects. A visit to meet us is recommended and phone / Skype interviews are also possible if necessary.

The Silicon Photonics Group is the leading silicon photonics group in the UK and one of the leading groups in the world. Current funding is in excess of £25 million. A PhD here has enabled our past graduates to make successful careers in academia, in national scientific laboratories, and as scientists or business leaders in industry.

Please contact Professor Graham Reed (g.reed@soton.ac.uk) and Dr. Ke Li (kl@ecs.soton.ac.uk) for further details about available PhD projects and visit our group page: (http://www.siliconphotonics.co.uk/).

Key facts

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

Closing date: applications should preferably be received no later than 31 May for standard admissions, but later applications may be considered depending on the funds remaining.

Duration: typically, three and a half years (full-time)

Funding: full tuition plus, for UK students, an enhanced stipend of £18,000 tax-free per annum for up to 3.5 years. www.orc.southampton.ac.uk/phd_funding.html

Assessment: eight-and 16-month reports and viva voce determine progression to PhD; progression reports, viva voce and thesis examination

Start date: October 2017