About the project
Precise control of light between photonic chips and free space is central to optical communication and sensing. This project will co-design metasurfaces and integrated photonic circuits to realise compact beam-shaping interfaces, with experimentally validated performance and fabrication tolerances supporting wafer-scale integration.
Free-space optical communication, sensing and chip-to-chip interconnects require integrated photonic circuits (PICs) to generate controlled optical beams. Metasurfaces provide compact beam-shaping capabilities, but their response depends on the field delivered by the PIC and the tolerances of the combined structure.
This project aims to establish a wafer-scale metasurface-PIC platform through joint electromagnetic design and experimental validation. The central research question is how the guided optical field, coupling structure and metasurface can be engineered together to achieve prescribed free-space beam properties under practical fabrication constraints.
The research will develop co-design methods for selected functions, including focusing, collimation and beam steering. Electromagnetic simulations will link PIC output fields and metasurface geometry to beam profile, coupling efficiency and angular response. The designs will explicitly account for polarisation, optical bandwidth, alignment errors and fabrication variation.
Selected devices will be fabricated and characterised to test the accuracy of the models and quantify integration tolerances. A free-space optical I/O or sensing demonstrator will evaluate performance beyond the individual component.
The expected contribution is a validated design framework and reusable metasurface-PIC components suitable for inclusion in a process design kit (PDK). This will establish a route from beam-shaping structures to manufacturable optical interfaces, supporting free-space communication, LiDAR and optical interconnects.
Comprehensive training will be provided in photonic and optical modelling using Ansys Lumerical, COMSOL Multiphysics and Zemax, alongside full equipment training in the University of Southampton’s cleanroom facilities. You'll also receive hands-on training in optical measurements and silicon photonic chip testing, including optical alignment, fibre-to-chip coupling and device characterisation. Together, these activities will develop the skills required to design, fabricate and experimentally validate integrated photonic devices.
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.
