About the project
Optical fibre networks power all aspects of modern digital life, enabling AI applications and advanced wireless systems. This project explores the evolution of fibre infrastructure, using cutting-edge technologies to experimentally demonstrate emerging capabilities, paving the way for future high-performance networks that meet the demands of an increasingly connected world.
The emergence of new demands on our communication networks, stemming from AI services, a proliferating mobile network infrastructure and the advent of quantum technologies, creates new challenges for optical communications. The resulting growth in data traffic necessitates new transmission techniques across core, metro, access and data-centre networks. At the same time, concern over the energy consumption of communication systems motivates the development of more efficient signal processing that can support higher transmission capacities while reducing power consumption.
The Optical Fibre Communications Laboratory at the Optoelectronics Research Centre (ORC) investigates technologies that address these challenges. You'll have the opportunity to work with novel fibre types and state-of-the-art devices to explore their potential for future communication systems. Research topics include:
- all-optical manipulation of signals
- advanced modulation formats
- resilient and energy-efficient optical transmission
- introduction of new optical transmission bands
- nonlinear optical processing for computing and communications applications
This project benefits from established collaborations with leading UK and European institutions and is linked with major national initiatives, including the EPSRC Programme Grant BOUNDLESS and the Telecommunications Hubs HASC and TITAN.
This is a predominantly experimental project that makes use of the world-class communication facilities of the X-band laboratory of the ORC. Capabilities include electronic and optical signal generation and diagnostic capabilities at state-of-the-art frequencies (up to 110 GHz), equipment enabling experimentation over new wavelength bands, and direct access to the UK’s National Dark Fibre Facility (NDFF), linking the ORC to collaborating laboratories across the UK.
You'll gain hands-on experience in handling and splicing optical fibre, and in building fibre-optic communication systems using lasers, modulators, photodetectors and state-of-the-art arbitrary waveform generators and real-time oscilloscopes. You'll gain expertise in system-level experimentation, focusing on design, construction, characterisation and the evaluation of the performance and potential of individual components.
You'll have opportunities to take part in cross-institution project meetings, offering opportunities to present your work to wider audiences, and you'll collaborate in joint experiments with researchers across the ORC and partner institutions, gaining experience in engaging with peers in a professional environment, and collaborating towards common objectives.
The School of Optoelectronics (ORC) is committed to promoting equality, diversity inclusivity as demonstrated by our Athena SWAN award. We welcome all applicants regardless of their gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation or age, and will give full consideration to applicants seeking flexible working patterns and those who have taken a career break. The University has a generous maternity policy, onsite childcare facilities, and offers a range of benefits to help ensure employees’ well-being and work-life balance. The University of Southampton is committed to sustainability and has been awarded the Platinum EcoAward.
