Do you want to specialize and deepen in Integrated Circuits and mixed-signal design? Are you eager to electronically control light, like none before? Do you want to influence the next generation of FMCW LiDARs (Frequency-Modulated Continuous Wave Light Detection and Ranging) devices and integrated-circuits? Do you want to closely collaborate with scientists from Belgium, the Netherlands, France and Denmark?
This exceptional opportunity presents a chance for us to explore the realm of electronically controlling massive arrays of small lasers that enable novel architectures of LiDAR transmitters. We shall investigate the challenges of tunable lasers in the framework of FMCW LiDAR devices, designing precision and high efficiency circuits for driving and controlling lasers that feature novel feedback loops for wavelength control. In the course of this research, we may draw upon concepts from various fields, including phased arrays, digital Sigma-Delta (ΣΔ) modulation, digital signal processing (DSP), and power-efficient IC design. This challenge creates a new PhD position that you may help fill in! In this role, you will fuse your passion for analog and mixed-signal IC design with the latest advancements in integrated power management circuits and their control.
It's worth noting that this research project forms a crucial part of a collaborative initiative within a pan-European research network called NiteLiDAR. We want to use the results of this research, together with our partners, to create innovative demonstrators for the next generation of LiDARs.
NiteLiDAR is open to researchers regardless of gender, religion, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, political views, language, age and nationality. Applications from highly qualified applicants from outside the EU will thus be equally considered to other applicants. The integration of refugees is an EU priority and we will ensure equal opportunities to the researchers whose scientific careers have been interrupted. To ensure a gender balance in the project and work towards the Commission's own policies on narrowing the gap between the genders in research, should two applicants be found to be equally qualified the preference will be given to the one that will balance the gender distribution in the entire Network. After the deadline, all submitted applications will be checked against the defined admissibility and eligibility criteria (e.g. submitted electronically, readable, complete, in English, including grades and references), and applicants will be informed by email. The following interviews and selection process will be carried out by a temporary Selection Committee constituted by the Coordinator (when possible) and the supervisors. Evaluation criteria include: Scientific background, capacity for creativity and independent thinking and leadership, mentoring and presentation abilities.
The personal data of the applicants will be handled in compliance with applicable EU and national law on data protection (GDPR).
Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e) is an internationally oriented research university, specialized in engineering, science and technology. TU/e is known for its major scientific impact and development of technological innovations. Our university is at the heart of society: TU/e focuses on complex societal challenges by specifically targeting three Strategic Areas with education and research: Energy, Health, and Smart Mobility.
The Department of Electrical Engineering (EE) is one of the most successful departments in the Netherlands in the field of research in collaboration with industry. The department currently has approximately 1200 Bachelor and Master students and more than 300 PhD students.
Responsibilities You will be responsible for researching, developing and implementing key architectural and circuits related aspects for an integrated tuneable laser driver that maximizes power efficiency and enables accurate wavelength control. Furthermore, you will be responsible for designing, fabricating via IC foundry and characterizing experimentally a chip controlling the laser driver exploiting wavelength sensing and suitable algorithms, including AI. Finally, you will be responsible for designing, fabricating, and characterizing experimentally a chip enabling FMCW (15GHz) chirps, and which is able to interface the other two designed ICs.
Thus, we actively search now for suitable candidates, who are eager to assume these responsibilities and answer key research questions, from an IC perspective, like:
- What should be the circuits of the laser driver, the feedback and control loops, and the FMCW chirp generation/driving, which will be designed using a suitable CMOS technology available from commercial foundries, fabricated by the foundry, and experimentally characterized?
- How can we make a system demonstrator (including the tunable laser source), built and experimentally characterized together with an integrated laser?
- Can we demonstrate capability to build a miniature tunable laser source, based only on integrated components?
The PhD research needs to be concluded in 4 years. An essential work plan with milestones can be:
- Year 1: Secondments at partners premises, to study the challenges of co-integrating photonic with electronic ICs; optimal co-design of the driver and laser (PhD 1);
- Year 2-4: design and fabrication of an IC test chip featuring drivers; Design and fabrication of test Printed-Circuit-Board (PCB) to characterize the test chips; Measurements in the framework of an FMCW LiDAR.
- Year 4: PhD thesis and defense.