PhD Studentship: Phased Array Fibre Lasers with Machine Learning

PhD Supervisor: Johan Nilsson

Supervisory Team: Prof Johan Nilsson, Dr William Kerridge-Johns

Project description

This project combines state of the art optical fibre laser amplifiers with machine learning control to produce next-generation lasers. These “smart” phased-array lasers promise to revolutionise materials processing and other important near-term and futuristic laser applications, including even starship propulsion! This modular and scalable approach offers rapid and flexible, unsurpassed, control of the beam shape and polarisation. Adding to this, computer control through neural networks and machine learning is now emerging as a means both to implement and to optimise the control offering a new range of capabilities in this rapidly developing field.

The Smart Fibre Optics High-Power Photonics (HiPPo) programme is a £6 million EPSRC funded 5-year programme pursuing fibre-based phased-array lasers at the Optoelectronics Research Centre, University of Southampton gow.epsrc.ukri.org/NGBOViewGrant.aspx?GrantRef=EP/W028786/1, www.orc.soton.ac.uk/news/7058. We are now seeking a PhD student to research advanced fibre amplifiers and beam combination concepts within this ground-breaking programme at the interface of physics and engineering. The general research area is laser physics & engineering, and specifically the building blocks and control needed for a phased-array laser. This involves fibre amplifiers with reduced noise, phase & polarisation control, as well as fibre nonlinearities and their mitigation in fibre laser systems at high intensities. The control schemes will be developed and implemented with the assistance of machine learning specialists.

You will work in a world-leading team, measuring and optimising high-power fibre amplifiers that you design and build, e.g., with fibres fabricated in-house in ORC’s state-of-the-art cleanrooms. Throughout your PhD, you will have access to state-of-the-art laboratories at the ORC. At the end of your PhD project, you will have developed knowledge and skills in cutting-edge fibre and laser technology and advanced characterization techniques.

This project combines many highly-active research topics – phased array combination, machine learning, programmable structured light generation, multi-kW lasers – with a wide range of impact areas both in academic research and industry. If you are seeking an industrially-relevant PhD project with experimental focus and are interested in the rich physics challenges of high-power fibre lasers and phased arrays then this opportunity is perfect for you.

If you wish to discuss any details of the project informally, please contact Johan Nilsson, jn@orc.soton.ac.uk

Entry Requirements

A very good undergraduate degree (at least a UK 2:1 honours degree, or its international equivalent).

Closing date

Applications are accepted throughout the year.

The start date will typically be late September, but other dates are possible.

Funding

For UK students, tuition fees and a stipend at the UKRI rate plus £2,000 ORC enhancement tax-free per annum for up to 3.5 years (totalling around £21,000 for 2024/25, rising annually). EU and Horizon Europe students are eligible for scholarships. CSC students are eligible for fee waivers. Funding for other international applicants is very limited and highly competitive. Overseas students who have secured or are seeking external funding are welcome to apply.

How To Apply

Apply online: Search for a Postgraduate Programme of Study (soton.ac.uk). Select programme type (Research), Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences, next page select “PhD ORC”. In Section 2 of the application form you should insert the name of the supervisor.

Applications should include:

• Curriculum Vitae
• Two reference letters
• Degree Transcripts/Certificates to date

For further information please contact: feps-pgr-apply@soton.ac.uk

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