📖Program Curriculum
Project details
This theoretical/experimental PhD project will focus on developing an optical clock based on a new type of nonlinear optical wave, called temporal laser cavity soliton, recently discovered in the Emergent Photonics laboratory [1,2] for ultra-efficient and resilient microcombs (https://www.lboro.ac.uk/research/emergent-photonics). You will work in the team of Prof Alessia Pasquazi, funded by her recent ERC starting grant ‘Temporal laser cavity solitons microcombs’ (https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/851758).
Miniaturised atomic clocks in a portable format are expected to change the way we access to timing, positioning and navigation. They are a fundamental building block for the new generation of quantum sensors and could play a key role in making our society resilient to GPS spoofing and jamming. (https://www.theregister.co.uk/2019/12/03/register_lecture_times_up_for_gps_atomic_clocks_to_the_rescue/ )
As every clock, a portable optical atomic clock is composed of two fundamental components [3]: a reference (an ultraprecise atomic oscillator) and a counter (an optical frequency comb, a special laser developed by the Nobel prizes John Hall and Theodor Hänsch[4]).
Microcombs are special pulsed lasers based on millimetre size optical resonators. Firstly discovered in 2007[5], they have galvanised the attention of photonic scientists with the promise to realise the full potential of frequency combs in a compact form. To meet the demand of practical atomic clocks, microcombs needs, however, to become an efficient, robust and reliable technology.
Starting from a configuration where the microresonator is inserted inside the laser cavity itself, this project addresses the physics of microcomb in a holistic fashion, considering the whole set of effects that play a role in the system and provide a path towards robustness[1,2].
Loughborough University has an applied research culture. In REF 2021, 94% of the work submitted was judged to be top-rated as world-leadingor internationally excellent. We are a community based on mutual support and collaboration. Through our Doctoral College there are continual opportunities for building important research skills and networks among your peers and research academics.
[1] H.Bao et al., Nature Photonics 13, 384–389(2019)
[2] M. Rowley et al., Nature 608, 303-309 (2022)
[3] W. F. McGrew, et al., Nature 564, 87–90 (2018)
[4] N. R. Newbury, Nature Photonics 5, 186–188(2011)
[5] P. Del’Haye, Nature 450, 1214-7 (2007)
