This project will initially focus on developing, demonstrating, and characterising fibre laser sources and will subsequently aim to utilise the developed technology in a range of application areas.

Fibre lasers have seen a rapid development in output power and performance over the past three decades and have revolutionised the application space for photonics. Some applications specifically require high power to perform the intended tasks whilst others require low noise and narrow linewidth. Increasing the output power from fibre lasers has been the focus of intense research for decades for applications in scientific research, industrial processing and manufacturing, and defence and security, and has helped to develop a plethora of new fibre types and pump sources.

However, one aspect of fibre lasers that has been lagging behind is the continued development of wavelength-flexible single-frequency sources to support and facilitate an increasing need and demand in parallel areas of practical applications including:

• high-precision metrology
• spectroscopy
• remote sensing
• frequency conversion
• gravitational wave detection
• coherent LIDAR
• emerging quantum computing applications all of which require sources with very narrow linewidths at or below the kHz level

Lasers with narrow linewidths are also required in coherent combination of multiple fibre laser beams to enable very high power-levels (100s of kW CW), and so there is an urgent need to continue to innovate and develop a range of properties of fibre lasers in parallel, including those of wavelength-agile, narrow linewidth sources, which is the topic of this PhD project.

Your will initially develop, demonstrate, and characterise the fibre laser sources. You will subsequently aim to utilise the developed technology in a range of the application areas mentioned. It is largely an experimental project, but some theoretical modelling will also be required to guide the laser developments and help analyse the generated data and results. The project offers considerable opportunities for applicants who show strong innovation as well as a desire to broach new areas of science and technology.

The Optoelectronics Research Centre is committed to promoting equality, diversity, and inclusivity, as demonstrated by the school’s Athena Swan award. We welcome all applicants regardless of their gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation or age. We take personal circumstances into account, and will give full consideration to applicants seeking to study part time. The campus has onsite childcare facilities.

This project is supervised by Dr Morten Ibsen and Professor Jayanta Sahu.

https://www.southampton.ac.uk/people/5x25h9/doctor-morten-ibsen

https://www.southampton.ac.uk/people/5wy9gc/professor-jayanta-sahu

Entry requirements

You must have a UK 2:1 honours degree, or its international equivalent , in physics or a closely related discipline.

Previous experience with optical fibres and lasers is beneficial but not essential.

How to apply

https://student-selfservice.soton.ac.uk/BNNRPROD/bzsksrch.P_Search

You need to:

• choose programme type (Research), 2025/26, Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences
• select Full time or Part time
• choose the relevant PhD in Computer Science
• add name of the supervisor in section 2

Applications should include:

• personal statement
• your CV (resumé)
• 2 academic references
• degree transcripts to date