About the project
This project, co-funded by QinetiQ, aims to develop advanced technologies for defence and security by creating a heterogeneous SiN-GaAs platform for a coherent Frequency-Modulated Continuous Wave (FMCW) LiDAR operating at the 1-µm wavelength band.
The project involves the design, fabrication, and characterization of key components, including
- on-chip lasers,
- IQ modulators,
- splitter networks,
- phase modulators,
- Semiconductor Optical Amplifiers (SOAs),
- polarization control elements,
- coherent photoreceivers,
leading to the laboratory demonstration of a fully functional 1-µm LiDAR on-chip.
The work will focus on device simulation and design followed by process development and fabrication using the best University cleanroom facility in the UK. Device characterisation will be performed in our state-of-the-art silicon photonics laboratory and in collaboration with our industry partner QinetiQ.
This project is part of a broader MoD/EPSRC initiative, the Energy Transfer Technology Skills and Training (S&T) Hub, designed to train future leaders in energy transfer technologies for defence and related fields. The Hub, supported by MoD, Dstl, and various UK defence and security companies, provides a platform for students to engage with industry experts and pursue both research and industrial career paths.
You will be physically located in Southampton and will join a cohort of around 12 PhD students annually from several UK institutions.
The program will include both online and in-person activities to promote cohort building and collaborative learning.
The PhD will last four years, starting on January 1, 2025, with the student based at the University of Southampton.
The industrial partner, QinetiQ, is a major international company comprised of over 6,000 dedicated professionals world-wide with excellence in research and development and interest in coherent beam combination and multifunctional LiDAR technologies. QinetiQ is a catalyst for fast-track innovation, offering outstanding experimentation facilities, and technical, engineering, and scientific expertise in defence, aerospace, security and related markets, all working together to explore new ways of protecting what matters most. The partner will provide PhD supervision, a placement and be part of the larger STH community benefiting in the diverse academic and industrial network offered by the STH.
