Purpose of Role
This Research Associate position will support the research and development of a new generation of light source based on gas-filled hollow fibers. Despite the rise of novel nonlinear materials, the generation, control and application of light sources in the ultraviolet spectral region has proven to be a long standing challenge. The goal of this scientific research project is to demonstrate the best in class light source in the deep UV by exploiting the broadband guidance handling capabilities of modern hollow fibers filled with gases. Such light source will allow exquisite control of key light parameters such as pulse durations, emission wavelengths and repetition rates and it will open new spectroscopy, industrial and healthcare applications.
The project main focus will be on experiments carried out at the LUPO laboratories at Heriot-Watt University. This will provide plenty of opportunities to master state of the art research-grade lasers and develop applied optics skills, instrument control, numerical modelling and demonstrate fundamental physics conundrums.
Key Duties & Responsibilities
1. Use of CAD design software and waveguide FEM solver
2. Working with and testing anti-resonant, capillary and solid-state fibers
3. Building and troubleshooting gas-filling system for hollow-core fibers
4. Building optical setup for temporal characterization of ultrashort pulses in ultraviolet, visible and near-infrared
5. Working with ultrafast optical setups and lasers with high-average and high-peak power
6. Building of optical cavities
7. Running existing simulation codes in Julia and processing their results. Helping to develop new models and algorithms to simulate pulse propagation, the material response, and other aspects of our experiments. Coding in Python
8. Assisting with the filing and generation of intellectual property and technology transfer
9. Assisting in the day-to-day maintenance of the experimental facilities, liaising with companies and external collaborators
10. Assisting with engagement with industrial partners, and preparation of experimental demonstrations and writing of detailed technical reports
Essential & Desirable Criteria
Essential
11. A PhD in physics or engineering with a specialisation in optics or equally a PhD thesis submitted in same subject area
12. Experience in nonlinear fiber optics, and experiments with gas-filled hollow-core fibers
13. Experience in handling, designing and testing of anti-resonant, capillary and solid-state fibers
14. Experience in writing technical research reports for industrial engagement
15. Experience with high-pressure and high-vacuum gas-filling systems for optical experiments
16. Experience with high-power lasers, optical cavities and noise performance
17. The ability to formulate and progress work on their own initiative
18. The ability to work as part of a team on the experiments at Heriot-Watt and more widely with scientific and industrial collaborators at other institutions
Desirable
19. Demonstrable hands-on experience working with lasers in an optical laboratory, specially constructing and optimising optical setups
20. Familiarity with computer-aided design (CAD) and FEM solvers of optical systems
21. Experience in the optical and mechanical design of optical devices or lasers
22. Experience with construction and testing of optical cavities
23. Experience writing numerical codes to control laboratory instruments and collecting and analysing experimental and numerical datasets
24. Experience collaborating with multidisciplinary scientific teams, including those outside the group in which you work