Project description

Meta-lenses are lithography-based nanostructured planar surfaces that can act like conventional lenses. They promise to be a disruptive technology in optics that could replace bulky refractive lenses in many applications. Meta-lenses are but one example of a class of meta-surfaces. The potential of meta-surfaces and meta-lenses is due to their extremely small dimensions (sub-wavelength thickness) and the possibility of manipulating light properties, such as polarization, in novel and more efficient ways as compared to traditional optics.

This PhD position is part of a larger project which goal is to investigate some of the limits of meta-lenses in terms of bandwidth, transmission efficiency and aberrations. Such limits can be imposed by the fabrication method used to nanostructure the surface, but also fundamental limits are investigated, e.g. due to the finite size or the discrete spatial phase variation in meta-surfaces imposed by the structures forming the meta-surface.

The overall project comprises analysis, simulation, and design of meta-lenses, the fabrication of meta-lenses using different lithographic techniques, and the characterization of these meta-lenses. The present PhD vacancy mainly concerns the analysis on fundamental limits, the design of meta-lenses in a particular fabrication technology and their characterization.

The project is a collaboration between the departments of Applied Physics and Electrical Engineering of Eindhoven University of Technology, in particular the Electromagnetics group, as well as with industrial partners with a worldwide scope. The project is part of a large long-term research activity at Eindhoven University of Technology in the field of photonics design and fabrication.

Tasks

• Study of the literature on metalenses, their design and fabrication.
• Study electromagnetic modeling methods suitable for analyzing the propagation of light through a metalens.
• Develop a model and method for analyzing fundamental limits of metalens performance.
• Design a metalens in a suitable technology.
• Characterize the performance of a metalens.
• Dissemination of the results of your research in international and peer-reviewed journals and conferences.
• Writing a successful dissertation based on the developed research and defending it.
• Assume educational tasks like the supervision of Master students and internships.

We are looking for a candidate who meets the following requirements:

• You are a talented and enthusiastic young researcher.
• You have experience with or a background in electrical engineering, physics, or applied mathematics, with prior experience in modeling and design.
• Preferably you finished a master's in Electrical Engineering, applied Physics or Applied Mathematics.
• You work well in a team, with an interest in design, and theoretical and experimental research.
• You have good programming skills and experience.
• You have good communicative skills and a cooperative attitude in the work of a research team.
• You are creative and ambitious, hard-working, and persistent.
• You have good command of the English language (knowledge of Dutch is not required).

Group Description

The Electromagnetics (EM) group investigates the behaviour of electromagnetic fields by computational, analytical and experimental techniques. The knowledge thus obtained is used in a wide range of applications from all areas of Electrical Engineering, with particular attention for antennas and propagation, wireless communication, non-destructive testing and sensing, optical interconnects, and (bio)-medical electromagnetics. The EM group has collaborations with other academic institutions and industry via national and European funded projects in a diverse range of application areas.

The PhD will join the group and interact with the other members of the EM group (around 60 researchers). Furthermore, the project is part of a larger research consortium where he/she will interact with a mix of academic and industrial research partners. Research within the EM group is characterized by personal supervision. The PhD will have access to courses offered by Eindhoven University of Technology, and will be able to attend national and international scientific conferences.

For more detailed information on the activities of the group please check http://tue.nl/em/.

A meaningful job in a dynamic and ambitious university, in an interdisciplinary setting and within an international network. You will work on a beautiful, green campus within walking distance of the central train station. In addition, we offer you:

• Full-time employment for four years, with an intermediate evaluation (go/no-go) after nine months. You will spend 10% of your employment on teaching tasks.
• Salary and benefits (such as a pension scheme, paid pregnancy and maternity leave, partially paid parental leave) in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities, scale P (min. €2,770 max. €3,539).
• A year-end bonus of 8.3% and annual vacation pay of 8%.
• High-quality training programs and other support to grow into a self-aware, autonomous scientific researcher. At TU/e we challenge you to take charge of your own learning process.
• An excellent technical infrastructure, on-campus children's day care and sports facilities.
• An allowance for commuting, working from home and internet costs.
• A Staff Immigration Team and a tax compensation scheme (the 30% facility) for international candidates.