Low-cost nanofabrication for unusual optical devices

Artificial dielectric and metallic nanostructures have drawn much attention due to their unusual properties (e.g., negative refraction, super-imaging) in the visible and infrared domains. Nevertheless, the fabrication techniques have been limited to advanced nanofabrication facilities such as electron-beam lithography and focused-ion beam milling, which are very expensive and not suitable for mass production.  In this project, you will focus on the fabrication of photonic structures and devices using various methods, including optical lithography, self-assembly, holography, etc. The emerging applications of resonant nanostructures in sensing and imaging will also be explored.

This project is closely related to our current metasurface research. Advances in metasurfaces have led to various practical applications. Our recent work includes the realization of polarization-dependent broadband metasurface hologram, multifunction optical devices, longitudinal multi-foci lens, broadband vortex beam generator, helicity dependent directional surface plasmon polariton excitation and so on. Details of our research can found via the link https://nanophotonicslab.eps.hw.ac.uk/Research.html

The research is multi-disciplinary, involving: nanofabrication, photonics, materials science, and data processing. We are looking for highly motivated candidates with a strong background in the following related areas: nanodevice fabrication, nanophotonics, metamaterials or closely related areas.  Skills in using cleanroom and nanofabrication facility are desirable. Experience in CST microwave studio, COMSOL Multiphysics and math tools such as Matlab will be a plus.

Self-motivated graduate students with excellent potential are welcome to join us for PhD study to tackle exciting new scientific and engineering challenges in nanophotonics research.

Please send inquiry emails to Dr. Chen via email (x.chen@hw.ac.uk) and enclose a CV and a brief summary of why you feel you are applicable