PhD Projects

Supervisors:Prof. Franko Küppers (f.kueppers@skoltech.ru), Prof. Arkady Shipulin (a.shipulin@skoltech.ru)

Research and development in the field of creating High-Frequency (HF) transceivers have achieved significant results. However, such issues as low footprint, reducing energy consumption, increasing stability, improving and optimizing technical characteristics (speed, capacity, dynamic range, etc.), etc. remain opened to date and require additional fundamental and exploratory research.

In the frame of the proposed PhD Thesis, you will work on design and experiments of the high-frequency transceivers based on photonic integrated circuits (PICs). Recent developments in the field of integrated photonics open up new opportunities to solve the mentioned above problems, and joint photonic-electronic technologies on a single chip in the future will allow us to create unique devices. This project aims to explore the possibility of development, implementation and optimization of combined gigahertz/terahertz receivers and transmitters (transceivers) based on integrated photonic technologies for existing and perspective systems for data receiving, processing and transmission (Internet of things, communications, 5G+/6G, sensors). The goal is to investigate numerically the feasibility transceivers modeling with optimized high-frequency/photonic parts, get concrete device design for further fabrication possibility. The second goal is to make a design of a PIC realizing this concept using the standard numerical packages with further manufacturing, packaging and testing.

You will research and practice various aspects of communication technologies, laser dynamics, numerical and experimental methods and tools for Tx/Rx and PICs design, fabrication, packaging and testing, interact with experimental groups, communicate with the EU and native technological centers, generate reports, present the results at regular internal meetings and conferences, and gain international network, as well as be responsible for corresponding MSc students projects.

1.Shihab Al-Daffaie,Oktay Yilmazoglu, Franko Küppers, Hans L. Hartnagel, «1-D and 2-D Nanocontacts for Reliable and Efficient Terahertz Photomixers», IEEE, Vol. 5, Issue 3, 2015

2.Doerr C, Chen L, Vermeulen D, et al. Single-chip silicon photonics 100-Gbs coherent transceiver. Optical Fiber Communication Conference: Postdeadline Papers, 2014

3.K. A. Williams, et. al., “High-speed energy-efficient InP photonic integrated circuit transceivers”, Proc. SPIE 10924, Optical Interconnects XIX, 1092411 (12 April 2019)

4.Shamsul Arafin, Larry A. Coldren,  “Advanced InP Photonic Integrated Circuits for Communication and Sensing”, IEEE JOURNAL OF SELECTED TOPICS IN QUANTUM ELECTRONICS, VOL. 24, NO. 1, JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2018

Supervisors: Prof. Franko Küppers (f.kueppers@skoltech.ru), Prof. Arkady Shipulin (a.shipulin@skoltech.ru)

Background:

The Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Laser (VCSEL) in the range of telecom wavelengths around 1,5 µm possess really attractive for multiple applications properties, for example smaller footprint, lower power consumptions, high frequency direct modulation, array, etc.

In the frame of the proposed PhD Thesis, you will work on design and experiments of the high-frequency VCSEL for telecom. The typical commercial available VCSELs use 850 nm and O optical bands, while for coherent communication applications it is better to utilize C band. One the other hand VCSEL devices allow to be directly modulated with broadband signals and high-frequency influence and matching are strongly desired. The goal is to investigate numerically the feasibility VCSEL 3D modeling with optimized high-frequency part and temperature influence, get concrete device design for further fabrication possibility. The second goal is to make a design of a photonic integrated circuit (PIC) realizing this concept using the standard numerical packages for this PIC design with further manufacturing and testing with the combination of VCSELs.

Learning Outcome:

You will research and practice various aspects of communication technologies, laser dynamics, numerical and experimental methods and tools for VCSELs and PICs design, fabrication and testing, interact with experimental groups, communicate with the EU and native technological centers, generate reports, present the results at regular internal meetings and conferences, and gain international network, as well as be responsible for corresponding MSc students projects.
References:

1.M.Y. Belkin, V.P. Yakovlev, «VICSELONICS – the new area of optoelectronic radio signal processing», Photonics, #3, 51, 2015

2.Arkadi Chipouline, et. al., „Applications of VCSELs in optical transmission lines and vortex generation”, Invited, Laser Optics, 2016.

3.Silvia Spiga, et. al., “Single-Mode High-Speed 1.5-µm VCSELs”, JOURNAL OF LIGHTWAVE TECHNOLOGY, VOL. 35, NO. 4, FEBRUARY 15, 2017

4.Fumio KOYAMA, “Advances and New Functions of VCSEL Photonics”, OPTICAL REVIEW Vol. 21, No. 6 (2014)

Supervisors: Prof. Franko Küppers (f.kueppers@skoltech.ru), Prof. Arkady Shipulin (a.shipulin@skoltech.ru)

Background:

The Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Laser (VCSEL) in the range of telecom wavelengths around 1,5 µm possess really attractive for multiple applications properties, for example smaller footprint, lower power consumptions, high frequency direct modulation, array, etc.

In the frame of the proposed PhD Thesis, you will be responsible for researching VCSEL regular dynamics corresponding to different applications such as biophotonics (increasing sensing sensitivity), communication (data speed increasing) and computing (new methods of optical computing) with the combination of Photonic Integrated Circuits (PIC).

The goal is to investigate numerically the feasibility VCSEL regular dynamics modeling with optimized parameters, get concrete device design for further fabrication possibility. The second goal is to make a design of a photonic integrated circuit (PIC) realizing this concept using the standard numerical packages for this PIC design with further manufacturing and testing with the combination of VCSELs.

Learning Outcome:

You will research and practice various aspects of communication technologies, laser dynamics, numerical and experimental methods and tools for VCSELs and PICs design, fabrication and testing, interact with experimental groups, communicate with the EU and native technological centers, generate reports, present the results at regular internal meetings and conferences, and gain international network, as well as be responsible for corresponding MSc students projects.

References:

1.Tuomo von Lerber, et. Al., “All-optical majority gate based on an injection-locked laser”, Scientific Reports | (2019) 9:14576

2.V. N. Chizhevsk, „Amplification of an Autodyne Signal in a Bistable Vertical-Cavity Surface-Emitting Laser with the Use of a Vibrational Resonance“, TECHNICAL PHYSICS LETTERS Vol. 44 No. 1 2018

3.Salam Nazhan, et. al., “Investigation of polarization switching of VCSEL subject to intensity modulated and optical feedback”, Optics & Laser Technology Volume 75, December 2015, Pages 240-245.

Supervisors: Prof. Franko Küppers (f.kueppers@skoltech.ru), Prof. Arkady Shipulin (a.shipulin@skoltech.ru)

Background:

The Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Laser (VCSEL) in the range of telecom wavelengths around 1,5 µm possess really attractive for multiple applications properties, for example smaller footprint, lower power consumptions, high frequency direct modulation, array, etc.

In the frame of the proposed PhD Thesis, you will be responsible for investigating VCSEL stochastic dynamics corresponding to the parameters enhancing for high-speed coherent communications. The typical values for the VCSEL linewidth is tens of MHz, while for coherent communication applications the linewidth has to be less than 300 kHz. Another critical issue is VCSEL high-frequency limit which is typically several GHz at 1550 nm, while modern high-speed systems require tens of GHz direct modulation bandwidth.

The goal is to investigate numerically the feasibility VCSEL stochastic dynamics modeling with optimized parameters, get concrete device design for further fabrication possibility. The second goal is to make a design of a photonic integrated circuit (PIC) realizing this concept using the standard numerical packages for this PIC design with further manufacturing and testing with the combination of VCSELs.

Learning Outcome:

You will research and practice various aspects of communication technologies, laser dynamics, numerical and experimental methods and tools for VCSELs and PICs design, fabrication and testing, interact with experimental groups, communicate with the EU and native technological centers, generate reports, present the results at regular internal meetings and conferences, and gain international network, as well as be responsible for corresponding MSc students projects.

References:

1.Tuomo von Lerber, et. Al, , «All-optical majority gate based on an injection-locked laser», Scientific Reports volume 9, Article number: 14576 (2019)

2.Dimitris Alexandropoulos, J. Scheuer, M.  J. Adams, “Vertical Cavities and Micro-Ring Resonators”, Semiconductor Modeling Techniques pp 225-254

3.Chih-Hao Chang, “Injection Locking of VCSELs”, IEEE JOURNAL OF SELECTED TOPICS IN QUANTUM ELECTRONICS, VOL. 9, NO. 5, SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2003

4.Devang Parekh, «Optical Injection Locking of Vertical Cavity Surface- Emitting Lasers: Digital and Analog Applications», Technical Report, 2012

Supervisors: Prof. Franko Küppers (f.kueppers@skoltech.ru), Prof. Arkady Shipulin (a.shipulin@skoltech.ru)

Background:

Nanophotonics appeared to be the most exciting breakthrough of the last decade(s). A huge number of new ideas tend to change the technologic landscape and qualitatively improve the parameters of the photonics based devices and components. One of the mostly intriguing idea is to build a laser with the sizes less than half of the wavelength of generation. Moreover, there is a possibility to build a laser generating the coherent light in nearfield only – anapole laser.

In the frame of the proposed PhD Thesis, you will work on numerical modelling of the nanolaser in the combination with metasurfaces separating beams with different optical angular momenta (OAM) – vortices. The goal is to create an optimized design of the nanolaser and OAM on one chip for increasing high-speed communication capacity and footprint. The second goal is to make a design of a photonic integrated circuit (PIC) realizing this concept using the standard numerical packages for this PIC design with further manufacturing and testing with the combination of nanolaser and OAM.

Learning Outcome:

You will research and practice various aspects of communication technologies, laser dynamics, numerical and experimental methods and tools for VCSELs and PICs design, fabrication and testing, interact with experimental groups, communicate with the EU and native technological centers, generate reports, present the results at regular internal meetings and conferences, and gain international network, as well as be responsible for corresponding MSc students projects.

References:

1.Ren-Min Ma  and Rupert F. Oulton , «Applications of nanolasers», Nature Nanotechnology | VOL 14 | JANUARY 2019 | 12–22

2.David J. Bergman and Mark I. Stockman, “Surface Plasmon Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation: Quantum Generation of Coherent Surface Plasmons in Nanosystems”, Phys. Rev. Lett. 90, 027402 – Published 14 January 2003

3.Arkadi Chipouline, Franko Küppers, “Analytical qualitative modelling of passive and active metamaterials”, JOSA B, Vol. 34, Issue 8, pp. 1597-1623, 2017.

4.Amr M. Shaltout, Alexander V. Kildishev, and Vladimir M. Shalaev, , «Evolution of photonic metasurfaces: from static to dynamic», Vol. 33, No. 3 / March 2016 / Journal of the Optical Society of America B

Supervisors: Prof. Franko Küppers (f.kueppers@skoltech.ru), Prof. Arkady Shipulin (a.shipulin@skoltech.ru)

Background:

Generation of high frequency and ultra-low phase noise microwave signal using an optoelectronic oscillator (OEO) is considered an effective solution, which can find numerous applications such as in wireless communications, satellite communications, sensing, 5G/6G, and microwave photonics. To ensure an OEO operates in single mode, a high-Q bandpass filter must be used. Joint combination of direct and external modulated lasers (VCSELs, impulse lasers (IL), continuous wave lasers (CWL)) with MicroRing Resonators (MRR) on Photonic Integrated Circuit (PIC) gives an opportunity to create compact, low power, tunable and mass product devices on one chip.

In the frame of the proposed PhD Thesis, you will work on numerical modelling of tunable OEO based on VCSEL, IL, CWL and MRR for different applications which in turn requires precision and stable low noise high-frequency signals. The goal is to research and optimize design of such OEO based on different platforms (Si, InP) with further fabrication and testing. The second goal is to make a numerical model for the design of a photonic integrated circuit (PIC) realizing this concept using the standard numerical packages for this PIC design.

Learning Outcome:

You will research and practice various aspects of communication technologies, laser dynamics, numerical and experimental methods and tools for lasers and PICs design, fabrication and testing, interact with experimental groups, communicate with the EU and native technological centers, generate reports, present the results at regular internal meetings and conferences, and gain international network, as well as be responsible for corresponding MSc students projects.

References:

1. Weifeng Zhang and Jianping Yao, „A Silicon Photonic Integrated Frequency-Tunable Optoelectronic Oscillator “, 2017 International Topical Meeting on Microwave Photonics (MWP)
2. Jian Tang, et. al., “Integrated Optoelectronic Oscillator”, Optics Express Vol. 26, Issue 9, pp. 12257-12265 (2018)
3. Afshin S. Daryoush, et. al., “Optoelectronic Oscillators: Recent and Emerging Trends”
4. М.Белкин, А.Лопарев, “Оптоэлектронный генератор – первое практическое устройство свч-оптоэлектроники”, ЭЛЕКТРОНИКА: Наука, Технология, Бизнес 6/2010

Supervisors: Prof. Franko Küppers (f.kueppers@skoltech.ru), Prof. Arkady Shipulin (a.shipulin@skoltech.ru)

Background:

Accurate conversion of wideband multi-GHz analog signals into the digital domain has long been a target of analog-to-digital converter (ADC) developers, driven by applications in satellite systems, 5G/6G, automotive transport, precision sensing, medical imaging, and communication systems. Implementation of photonic technologies allows to solve fundamental electrical limits and significantly improve main parameters (bandwidth, noises, errors, etc.). Typically photonic ADC (PADC) requires comb generator which could be developed using different techniques (mode-locked laser, using fiber non-linearity, using modulators non-linearity, Micro Ring Resonator (MRR) and etc.) in the combination with narrowband filtering. Integration realization of such optical filters and photonic comb generator based on nonlinear effects with the combination of Photonic Integrated Circuit (PIC) gives an opportunity to create compact, low power, tunable and mass product devices on one chip.

In the frame of the proposed PhD Thesis, you will work on numerical modelling of integrated PADC based on nonlinear comb generator and narrowband optical filters. The goal is to research and optimize parameters and design of such devices based on different platforms (Si, InP), with further fabrication and testing. The second goal is to make a numerical model for the design of a photonic integrated circuit (PIC) realizing this concept using the standard numerical packages for this PIC design.

Learning Outcome:

You will research and practice various aspects of communication technologies, laser dynamics, numerical and experimental methods and tools for PADC and PICs design, fabrication and testing, interact with experimental groups, communicate with the EU and native technological centers, generate reports, present the results at regular internal meetings and conferences, and gain international network, as well as be responsible for corresponding MSc students projects.

Background:

1.George C. Valley, “Photonic analog-to-digital converters”, 2007 / Vol. 15, No. 5 / OPTICS EXPRESS 1955

2.Mian Zhang, et. al., “Broadband electro-optic frequency comb generation in a lithium niobate microring resonator”, Nature, 568, 373-377 (2019)

3.Daryl t. Spencer, et. al., “An optical-frequency synthesizer using integrated photonics”, nature, 2018

4.Anatol Khilo, et. al., “Photonic ADC: overcoming the bottleneck of electronic jitter”, 2012 / Vol. 20, No. 4 / OPTICS EXPRESS 4454

Supervisors: Prof. Franko Küppers (f.kueppers@skoltech.ru), Prof. Arkady Shipulin (a.shipulin@skoltech.ru)

Background:

Quantum methods providing information generation and protection are unbreakable and hence of great interest for the Internet of Things, communications, sensing and etc. Propagation of a single photon in the standard communication grid (e.g. when Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) channel occupies one in C-band) can be significantly impaired by parasitic photons generated by nonlinear effects caused by the presence of classical information channels. Random numbers are a fundamental resource in science and technology, which are created by exploiting the laws of quantum mechanics have proven to be reliable and can be produced at enough rates for their practical use. While all these demonstrations have shown very good performance, most of the implementations using free-space and fiber optics suffer from limitations due to their size, which strongly limits their practical use. On the other hand integrated photonic technologies provide an opportunity for creating compact and high-performance passive and active components (lasers, modulators, photodetectors, waveguides, filters, etc.).

In the frame of the proposed PhD Thesis, you will work on numerical modelling of the propagation of a QKD channel accompanied by a standard C-band grid and quantum random number generator QRNG with the combination of integrated photonic technologies. The goal is to research and optimize parameters and design of such devices based on different platforms (Si, InP) with further fabrication and testing. The second goal is to make a numerical model for the design of a photonic integrated circuit (PIC) realizing this concept using the standard numerical packages for this PIC design.

Learning Outcome:

You will research and practice various aspects of communication technologies, advanced of quantum and nonlinear optics, numerical and experimental methods and tools for fiber optic communication lines design, fabrication and testing, interact with experimental groups, communicate with the EU and native technological centers, generate reports, present the results at regular internal meetings and conferences, and gain international network as well as be responsible for corresponding MSc students projects.

References:

1.Aleksic S, et. Al., „Perspectives and limitations of QKD integration in metropolitan area networks “, Opt Express. 2015 Apr 20;23(8):10359-73

2.T E Chapuran, et. al., “Optical networking for quantum key distribution and quantum communications”, New Journal of Physics 11 (2009) 105001

3.Francesco Raffaelli, et. Al., „SOI Integrated Quantum Random Number Generator Based on Phase fluctuations from a Laser Diode “, 2018

4.Kazusa Ugajin, et. al., “Real-time fast physical random number generator with a photonic integrated circuit”, Vol. 25, No. 6 | 20 Mar 2017 | OPTICS EXPRESS 6511

Supervisors: Prof. Franko Küppers (f.kueppers@skoltech.ru), Prof. Arkady Shipulin (a.shipulin@skoltech.ru)

Background:

Optical fiber communication networks are the backbone of any existing now and future communication systems, including 5/6G, communication in the frame of Internet Of Things (IoT) etc. The vast majority of the existing now and planned fiber optic communication lines use C- and L-band of the optical spectrum. In spite of the great achievement based on the implementation of the modern modulation formats, the total available information capacity is not enough already today, and is fast becoming the main bottleneck of IoT. The evident solution of this “capacity crunch” problem is to expand the used spectrum on shorter and longer wavelength regions. The main limitation factor here is the absence of optical amplifiers comparable with EDFA in terms of gain, efficiency, and noise. Bi-doped based fiber amplifier (BDFA) can become a breakthrough in optical fiber communication technologies and unleash the new spectrum regions.

In the frame of the proposed PhD Thesis, you will work on numerical modelling of the Bismuth based optical amplifier with the combination of EDFA and Raman amplifier at shelf (physical model of the Bi-doped fiber gain (including noise) in a spectrum region of interest as a function of pump power level, pump wavelength, pump direction, fiber length, and fiber type) and systems (in the combination with real high-speed communication signals and links) levels. The goal is to research and optimize parameters and design of such devices, with further fabrication and testing.

Learning Outcome:

You will research and practice various aspects of communication technologies, advanced of fiber and nonlinear optics, numerical and experimental methods and tools for fiber optic communication lines design, fabrication and testing, interact with experimental groups, communicate with the EU and native technological centers, generate reports, present the results at regular internal meetings and conferences, and gain international network as well as be responsible for corresponding MSc students projects.

References:

1.Evgeny M Dianov, „Bismuth-doped optical fibers: a challenging active medium for near-IR lasers and optical amplifiers“, Light: Science & Applications (2012);

2.V. V. Dvoyrin, et. al., “Bismuth-doped-glass optical fibers—a new active medium for lasers and amplifiers”, Optics Letters Vol. 31, Issue 20, pp. 2966-2968 (2006)

3.S. V. Firstov, et. al., “Wideband bismuth- and erbium-codoped optical fiber amplifier for C  +  L  +  U-telecommunication band”, Laser Physics Letters, 2017

4.Cheng Xiau San, et. al., “Wide-Band Bismuth-Based Erbium-Doped Fiber Amplifier With a Flat-Gain Characteristic”, 2009, IEEE Photonics Journal 1(5):259 – 264