PhD Studetnship: High-Power Laser Delivery in Hollow Core Fibres

Project Description

This project will seek to demonstrate new record power levels for laser power delivery using hollow core fibres (HCFs). The work will be experimental in nature, but will also include some numerical modelling. There will be collaboration across several research groups, covering high-power laser characterisation facilities and HCF fabrication.

The successful candidate will have the opportunity to explore related areas of research, such as optical non-linearities in gas-filled HCFs for wavelength translation.

We are looking for applicants with a background in physics, material sciences or engineering to become an integral part of an ambitious, very well-funded Programme with the potential for major global impact. You will be working as part of the ORC's world-leading research team and can expect professional mentoring, independence and the skills to move you onto a successful career.

Hollow core fibres are based on carefully designed glass microstructures which allows the guidance of light within a central air core, enabling the transmission of peak power levels far beyond the damage threshold of solid core silica glass fibres. At the same time, the process of coupling of light from high-power laser sources into the hollow-core fibre presents a number of significant challenges, which this project will attempt to solve. Both pulsed laser and continuous wave laser power delivery are within the scope of the work.

Full tuition funding, 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. EU students with no external funding can contend for a small number of competitive scholarships. Students from overseas who have secured some external funding are also encouraged to apply.

To discuss any details of the project or arrange a visit, please contact Professor David J. Richardson ( djr@orc.soton.ac.uk ), Dr Hans Christian Mulvad ( l.xu@soton.ac.uk ), or Dr Lin Xu ( l.xu@soton.ac.uk ).

The PhD programme

The ORC has been leading the world in optical fibre technology research for the past 50 years. With over 90 state-of-the-art laboratories and 200 researchers working in all areas of photonics, the ORC provides an outstanding interdisciplinary environment for students to grow. Its cluster of 12 photonics spin-out companies provides a natural career path for PhD graduates.

The group has an excellent track record of publishing in high profile research journals and leading international conferences. Its former PhD and postdoctoral researchers have made successful careers in universities worldwide or as industry scientists and business leaders.

In the first year of your PhD a structured training programme runs alongside the research project, providing a gradual transition from a taught degree to open-ended research. Students present their work at conferences worldwide, first-author papers in leading academic journals and emerge with skills at the forefront of glass and fibre optics research

Entry requirements:

first or upper second-class degree or equivalent

Closing date:

applications are welcome throughout the year.

Duration:

typically three and a half years (full-time)

Assessment:

reports at the 8 and 16-month stage and an oral examination to determine progression to PhD, which is awarded after thesis submission and viva voce examination

Start date:

typically October (although later starts might be acceptable)

Further information about the ORC: www.orc.soton.ac.uk

Further information about Airguide Photonics: www.airguide.soton.ac.uk