PhD Studentship: Multiphysics modelling of the optical, thermal and mechanical properties of plasmo

PhD Studentship: Multiphysics modelling of the optical, thermal and mechanical properties of plasmonic nanostructures.

Engineering & the Environment

Location:  Highfield Campus
Closing Date:   Sunday 08 January 2017
Reference:  675816F2

Project Reference: NGCM-0073

Recent advances in nanofabrication have enabled rapid progress in the field of nanophotonics and plasmonics, providing unprecedented control over light propagation and promising applications in information processing and transfer in current and future optical networks, as well as in sensing, imaging, and metamaterials. A key component for the realization of the field’s potential is nonlinear behaviour, which is typically achieved by the coupling of the optical characteristics of the system to different physical properties (electronic, magnetic, thermal, etc.). However, despite a surge in research activity during the past 15 years, the interplay between the physical properties of nanostructures with complex shapes and its optical response remains a challenging problem.

The project will address the issue by developing a platform for multiphysics modelling of the nonlinear properties of plasmonic nanostructures at a range of different length scales. Our approach will employ a combination of finite element methods, discrete dipole approximation and semi-analytical considerations based on the multipole expansion. We will consider the coupling between the electronic, magnetic, and thermal properties to the plasmonic response in nanostructures consisting of a range of different materials, starting from bulk noble metals (gold, silver) and moving to atomically thin materials (graphene, molybdenum disulphide). Finally, our approach will be extended to two- and three-dimensional array configurations of nanostructures aiming to design metamaterials with novel functionalities.

The candidate will join the Nanophotonics and Metamaterials group, whose research activities span the full spectrum from materials and nanofabrication, to optical characterization and computational modelling. We expect that the work undertaken within the project will be closely coordinated with parallel experimental activities in the group.

If you wish to discuss any details of the project informally, please contact Dr Nikitas Papasimakis, Nanophotonics & Metamaterials research group, Email: n.papasimakis@soton.ac.uk, Tel: +44 (0) 2380 59 3085.

This project is run through participation in the EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Next Generation Computational Modelling (http://ngcm.soton.ac.uk). For details of our 4 Year PhD programme, please see http://www.findaphd.com/search/PhDDetails.aspx?CAID=331&LID=2652

For a details of available projects click here http://www.ngcm.soton.ac.uk/projects/index.html

Visit our Postgraduate Research Opportunities Afternoon to find out more about Postgraduate Research study within the Faculty of Engineering and the Environment: http://www.southampton.ac.uk/engineering/news/events/2016/02/03-discover-your-future.page

Further details:

• Job Description and Person Specification