About the project
Global internet traffic has been growing exponentially over the past two decades with a predicted growth rate of around 40% year-on-year. This growth is driven primarily by bandwidth-hungry applications such as cloud computing, Telemedicine, and 4K live streaming and is expected to continue in the era of the Internet of Things (IoT) and 5G. However, the present optical fibre communication network’s capacity is solely based on the 11THz (C and L bands) gain bandwidth of erbium (Er) doped fibre amplifiers (EDFA) invented three decades ago. The scaling of the overall transmission capacity requires next-generation optical fibre amplifiers with ultra-broad gain bandwidths to further utilise the low-loss window offered by the solid- and hollow-core silica optical fibres.
In this PhD project, we aim to develop efficient Bi-doped fibres and to demonstrate next-generation ultra-broad Bi-doped fibre amplifiers covering the wavelength regions 1150-1500nm and 1600-1750nm. In the process of developing Bi-doped fibres, the student will also study spectroscopic properties such as absorption and emission cross-sections to understand the near-IR luminescence in these fibres. The focus will be on experimental work but can include simulations/modelling of new amplifiers based on the interests of the student. The performance of developed Bi-doped fibre amplifiers will be evaluated in collaboration with our academic partners. Our recent work on a record level of gain (40dB), wideband (115nm), and the highest recorded gain per unit length of 1.42 dB/m from Bi-doped fibre amplifiers have been well received in the scientific community and grasped significant attention from telecom industries.
We are seeking PhD applicants with a background in physics/chemistry/engineering/ materials science and with a strong interest in experimental work on optical fibre and/or laser/amplifier technology for this ambitious project. Throughout the PhD, the candidate will have access to state-of-the-art fibre fabrication facilities and laboratories at the ORC.
At the end of this PhD project, the student will have developed knowledge and skills in fibre fabrication, characterisation of doped fibres, and fibre amplifiers while having the opportunity to publish the work in high-impact journals and conferences.
