Student project: Atomic Optical Filters for Ultrahigh Resolution Spectroscopy

This project aims to develop ultranarrow optical bandpass filters using atomic vapours, which will completely revolutionize the way spectroscopy is done, allowing for unprecedented resolution, with high signal, in compact form factors.

*Important for non-EU students: You'll need to be registered at a Dutch university to meet immigration requirements.

What you will do

Optical spectroscopy is a remarkable tool for chemical analysis, being non-contact and fast. This allows for a vast array of applications covering domains such as healthcare, food formulations and processing, and agriculture. The major limitation of optical spectroscopy is the spectrometer itself, which limit both the signal and resolution of the resulting spectrum. At OnePlanet we have been exploring the use of widely tuneable lasers for spectroscopy which is a concept that eliminates the need for a spectrometer, bypassing the limitations of the spectrometer device. This internship project will work on an exciting, novel concept to achieve ultrahigh resolution by incorporating ultranarrow bandpass filters to boost the optical resolution to unprecedented levels.

Ultranarrow bandpass filters, made from atomic vapours, are remarkable devices, having extremely large optical throughput while maintaining the narrow bandpass. Up until now, their use has been extremely limited due to the lack of tunability of the atomic line, and hence it is unsuitable to be used as an analyser for wideband spectroscopy. We believe we have a method to overcome this seemingly insurmountable issue and allow wide-band spectroscopy at ultrahigh resolution.

In this project, an atomic optical bandpass filter will be designed, constructed and then integrated into a spectroscopic setup to perform proof-of-concept measurements. Specifically, the main tasks are listed below:

• Design the optical path through the filter and calculate the atomic response (using pre-existing software), finding the optimal parameters of atomic cell temperature and magnetic field strength, direction and profile.
• Design the cell heater and permanent magnet dimensions needed to achieve optimal parameters, and iterate the whole design as necessary.
• Experimentally characterize the optical filter using laser spectroscopy.
• Integrate the atomic filter assembly into the spectroscopic setup and perform proof-of-concept measurements
• Deliver a final presentation to the research institute and write up the study in a detailed report ready to transfer to a manuscript draft for publication in a scientific journal.

What we do for you

We offer a challenging and international environment at the forefront of technology. OnePlanet is an innovation centre consisting of 3 renowned and globally respected research institutes/universities: Wageningen University & Research, Radboud University, Radboudumc, and imec. By joining the OnePlanet team, you will be part of a team of world changers, disruptive innovators, and practical thinkers. Here, your ideas will have an impact on our future lives. Furthermore, this internship is expected to result in a high-impact journal article and is particularly suitable for a someone who would like to start a scientific career in either industry or academia.

Who you are

• You are an Msc student in Physics or a similar field.
• You have achieved good grades in your studies thus far.
• You are available for a (minimal) period of 5 months.
• Motivated student eager to expand knowledge in the field.
• Good written and verbal English skills.
• Entitled to do an internship in the Netherlands. This means that either you are either an EU/EEA citizen, or a non-EU/EEA citizen who is studying at a Dutch university and need to do an internship as part of your studies. 

Interested

Does this position sound like an interesting next step in your career at imec? Don’t hesitate to submit your application by clicking on ‘APPLY’.
Should you have more questions about the job, you can contact jobs@imec.nl.