PhD position on computational illumination optics

Are you eager to use your mathematical skills to design optical systems for sustainable high-tech devices for billions of people? If you studied math and are interested in modeling optical systems and developing numerical methods for the resulting partial differential equations, this may be the project for you!

The Computational Illumination Optics group is one of the few mathematics groups worldwide working on mathematical models of optical systems. They develop and analyze numerical methods to solve the resulting differential equations. The team has a healthy portfolio of PhD positions and close collaborations with industrial partners. It consists of four full FTEs at Eindhoven University of Technology and one part-time professor. See https://martijna.win.tue.nl/Optics/ for more details on their work.

PhD vacancy
As part of the national research program Optical coherence; optimal delivery and positioning (OPTIC, 12 PhD students across Dutch universities) we focus on the computational modeling aspect. OPTIC has four PhD positions at TU/e and we have filled three already. We still offer the PhD project on multi-beam freeform optical systems.
For ideal sources (point source or parallel beam of light rays) and light rays that follow a single path from light source to target screen, we know how to compute the required freeform optical surfaces (lenses or reflectors). This is done by numerically solving a nonlinear partial differential equation of Monge-Ampère type. In this project we will develop algorithms to design optical systems where light beams can be split and rays may follow different paths. This is important for applications as it may lead to more compact designs.

We are looking for talented enthusiastic PhD candidates who meet the following requirements:

• Master’s degree in (applied) mathematics or (applied) physics with a background in mathematical modeling, numerical analysis and scientific computing
• Experience with solving ordinary and partial differential equations numerically
• Experience with programming (C, C++, Python, Matlab or alike)
• Creative pro-active team player with good analytical skills
• A research-oriented attitude
• Ability to work in an interdisciplinary team and interested in collaborating with industrial partners
• Motivated to develop your teaching skills and coach students
• Fluent in spoken and written English (C1 level)