Computational methods for the analysis and design of photonic crystals in optical integrated circuits

The discovery of photonic band-gap (PBG) materials and their use in controlling light propagation is a new and exciting development. It has vast implications for material science, electrical engineering, optics, and physics. According to the world leading scientific journal Science, new light on photonics is one of the ten top breakthroughs of the year 1999 (Dec. 1999, Science). Science states that Semiconductors transformed the communication and computing industries by channeling electrons faster than
giant old vacuum tubes could. And many observers expect that in the 21st century these industries will be transformed again, by photonic crystals, latticelike structures that have the potential to manipulate photons as semiconductors do electrons but at the speed of light.

Fundamental equations for lights are Maxwells equations. The Finite-Difference Time-Domain (FDTD) method is a very often used approach to solve Maxwells
equations. It has been used to solve a wide variety of problems related to electromagnetic waves, such as wave propagation, scattering, electronic circuits, antenna analysis, and photonic circuits. We have developed serials of programs to analyse and design photonic crystal devices using the FDTD method.

We can offer diploma works for students of applied/technical physics, or computer science, or electrical engineering, who have some background knowledge in electromagnetic theory and photonics. The applicant should also have good knowledge on programming, in particular, using FORTAN or C++. He (or she) will be responsible to develop a Graphic User Interface of the existing FDTD codes for the analysis and design of photonic crystals in integrated optics. He (or she) is also supposed to do some further research on photonic crystals using the software developed.

If you are interested, please contact Dr. Min Qiu ([email protected]) for further information.