Several PhD positions in silicon photonics are available at the Nanophotonic Systems Laboratory at Boston University, at the BU Photonics Center. Students’ research may include the following areas:
- Energy-efficient photonic interconnects on CMOS chips. This work will advance and expand on our recent demonstration of the world’s first microprocessor that communicates using light (Sun et al., Nature 2015);
- Nonlinear integrated photonics and on-chip light generation, to demonstrate advanced on-chip continuous-wave, optical frequency comb, and pulsed light sources, light amplifiers, wavelength conversion, and light entropy and noise manipulation devices in Si and III-V’s.
- Quantum integrated photonics, aimed to demonstrate novel entangled photon light sources and complete quantum photonic circuits on chip that enable novel quantum communication, metrology and computation applications, and provide a platform for novel quantum physics experiments.
- Chip-scale nano-optomechanics, an exciting area at the interface of silicon photonics and nanoelectromechanical systems (NEMS), and their interaction through light forces, radiation pressure, and the interaction of light and acoustic/elastic waves at the nanoscale. We are using light forces to create photonic devices that are self-adaptive, and have unique nonlinear dynamics properties that may lead to novel nanoscale machines and photonic signal processing concepts.
- Photonic-electronic systems on chip with applications to neuromorphic computing, high performance analog-to-digital conversion, brain sensing, RF signal processing and space technology such as passive microwave Earth sensing.
- Fundamental first-principles electromagnetics and semiconductor physics based invention of novel photonic device concepts and theoretical constructs in photonics applied to any problem.
Within these areas, students can work in theory and design of modulators, switches, wavelength multiplexers, couplers, detectors, classical and quantum amplifiers and light sources, isolators, or novel device concepts to be named; and/or photonic systems, as well as the characterization of fabricated structures in our state-of-the-art laboratory and available facilities at BU and in the Boston area. Some projects (e.g. especially opto-mechanics and nonlinear optics) may involve significant components of nanofabrication.
During the course of their doctoral work, students will have the opportunity to gain significant expertise in electromagnetic theory, guided wave and resonator optics theory and design and micro and nanophotonic devices and circuits, semiconductor device theory and design, CMOS technology, and numerical simulation using commercial codes, custom designed codes and self-coded tools.
All students receive full financial support for the duration of their doctoral studies.
For specific questions about the PhD positions, contact Prof. Milos Popovic by email.
Degree Level: Scholarship is available for pursuing PhD studies.
Available Subject: Silicon Photonics
Eligibility: B.Sc. in electrical engineering, physics, or equivalent from a US or international institution.
Starting Date: September 1, 2017
Application Procedure: Applications are submitted through the Boston University online system, and must include GRE test scores, TOEFL or IELTS test scores for international students, statement of purpose, resume, transcripts, and recommendation letters. Complete information about application requirements
Deadline: December 15, 2016