{"id":5790,"date":"2013-04-09T00:54:40","date_gmt":"2013-04-09T00:54:40","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/africa-and-science.com\/?p=5790"},"modified":"2013-08-12T08:46:26","modified_gmt":"2013-08-12T08:46:26","slug":"2-phd-positions-in-optically-nano-engineered-components-for-high-capacity-integrated-silicon-photonics-onchip","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/africa-and-science.com\/?p=5790","title":{"rendered":"2 PhD positions in Optically Nano-engineered Components for High-capacity Integrated silicon Photonics (ONCHIP)"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"DTU<\/strong><\/p>\n

The project will combine topology optimization [1, 2], state-of-the-art cleanroom technologies, and ultra-high-speed characterization to explore the enormous potential of silicon nanophotonics for performing on-chip optical signal processing and routing to initiate a new era of optical communications (see e.g. ref. [3]). The project will develop and investigate silicon-based devices having\u00a0\u00b5m2-scale footprints that approach fundamental lower limits for sizes while facilitating novel functionalities for optical routing. The high power density in the\u00a0silicon photonic wire waveguide will be exploited and combined with topology optimized waveguide designs to further raise processing speeds in all-optical signal processing experiments already demonstrating world record figures (>1 TBit\/s). Emerging silicon and graphene technologies will be probed to realize compact, ultra-fast, and energy-efficient electro-optic modulators and the project will investigate cavity-enhanced emission from defect centers in silicon potentially making silicon a useful light emitter. Consequently, topology optimized silicon nanophotonics will provide low-cost, energy-efficient and high-capacity solutions for optical interconnections in tomorrow\u2019s communications-system on a chip, board, and rack level.<\/p>\n

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\nProject description
\n<\/strong>In this project you will<\/p>\n
    \n
  1. Design<\/strong>\u00a0novel and robust building blocks such as switches, filters, interferometers, converters, and cross-connects for compact on-chip optical circuits by utilizing topology optimization. In the project, we will also engineer the silicon photonic waveguide to achieve exotic light propagation and functionalities for use in sophisticated optical signal processing at TBit\/s speeds.<\/li>\n
  2. Fabricate\u00a0<\/strong>optimized components and circuits in the state-of-the-art cleanroom at DANCHIP. Also, you will take part in the on-going process of optimizing the nanofabrication processes to continuously push these towards nm-precision.<\/li>\n
  3. Simulate<\/strong>\u00a0the nanostructures using e.g. 2D & 3D Finite-Difference Time-Domain simulation tools and investigate designs for tolerances to the nanofabrication processes.<\/li>\n
  4. Characterize<\/strong>\u00a0components in the cleanroom for compliance to designs and in the optical lab for device losses and functionality performance. Components may also take part in signal processing experiments conducted in world-class facilities for investigating TB\/s optical systems.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    In the ONCHIP project two PhD stipends are available. The main foci of the projects are (but not limited to):<\/p>\n

    PhD project 1: Dispersion engineered silicon photonic wires for signal processing
    \n<\/strong><\/p>\n