Directional power combining in photodiode-based photonic transmitters enabled by antenna arrays (M/F)

17 Feb 2024
Job Information

Organisation/Company

CNRS

Department

Institut d'électronique et des technologies du numérique

Research Field

Engineering
Physics
Technology

Researcher Profile

First Stage Researcher (R1)

Country

France

Application Deadline

8 Mar 2024 - 23:59 (UTC)

Type of Contract

Temporary

Job Status

Full-time

Hours Per Week

35

Offer Starting Date

1 Apr 2024

Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme?

Not funded by an EU programme

Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure?

No

Offer Description

This thesis is part of the electronics PEPR, which aims to structure the French community for applications spanning the next 10 years. In this context, it is almost established that the next "6G" will play a fundamental role in the near future.

This interdisciplinary project involves 2 CNRS laboratories:
1) IETR – UMR CNRS 6164, (www.ietr.fr ), with experience on electromagnetics and antenna design.
2) IEMN – UMR CNRS 8520, (https://www.iemn.fr/en/ ), with expertise on THz photonics and THz electronics.

This thesis is a great opportunity to bring together two communities (antennas and THz photonics) which generally interact simply by exchanging the definition of interfaces or by giving each other specifications which sometimes ignore each other's needs. The PhD student (M.Sc. in Electrical/Electronics Engineering or Physics) will develop fast THz transmitters with high output power (IEMN) and exploit such devices for agile and efficient radiating elements (IETR). In addition, she/he will work on the manipulation of THz waves using beam-formers to control beams at the output of the antenna system). Finally, the doctoral student will contribute to antenna testing, transmitter measurement and global front-end characterization (IEMN-IETR).

To cope with the colossal increase in data traffic, very high-speed wired (optical fibers) and wireless technologies must be developed. As for wireless communications, it is mandatory to use high frequency carriers to reach the data rates of around 100 Gbits/s foreseen for future beyond 5G networks or "6G". This thesis will explore frequency windows in the sub-THz range (100 GHz -1 THz) to achieve such high data rates in real time.

The development of new components (such as UTC photodiodes) is essential to increase the power generated in the “THz gap” and, hence, to compensate for the high free-space propagation losses in sub-THz radio links. However, an effective use of sub-THz carriers in field wireless applications (mmunications beyond 5G, imaging, etc) requires that the generated signals be transmitted only in directions in which they will be received.

To this end, narrow (very directional) and steerable beams must be generated over a sufficiently wide field of view. The two laboratories (IETR and IEMN) involved in this project will cooperate to study the integration of UTC photodiodes (IEMN) with wideband planar antenna arrays (IETR). The developed photo-mixing arrays will rely on a coherent combination of power and also enable beam-steering. Indeed, it will be possible to control the phase of each radiating element by “true time delay” and to radiate mainly in the desired direction.

The objective is the development of photonic antenna arrays whose level of performance will go beyond the current state of the art. Two complementary concepts will be explored:
• Photomixing antennas with photonic beam formers. We will explore scalable and compact network structures capable of providing conjugate matching over a wide frequency range. Some of these concepts have already been validated by simulation [1].
• Higher gain values will be obtained by combining these photomixing antennas with advanced focusing structures (e.g. lenses or transmitting gratings) [2].

The final goal will be to propose flat antenna architectures with high gain and controllable beam for high-speed communications (backhaul/fronthaul radio links).

[1] A. J. Pascual, L. E. García-Muñoz, R. Sauleau and D. González-Ovejero, “Unit-cell design for antenna arrays efficiently matched to uni-travelling-carrier photodiodes,” 44th Int. Conf. Infrared Millimeter THz Waves, Paris, France, 2019, pp. 1-2. doi: https://doi.org/10.1109/IRMMW-THz.2019.8874017 .

[2] A. J. Pascual, M. Ali, T. Batté, F. Ferrero, L. Brochier, O. de Sagazan, F. van Dijk, L. E. García Muñoz, G. Carpintero Del Barrio, R. Sauleau, and D. González-Ovejero, “Photonic-enabled beam switching mm-wave antenna array,” J. Lightwave Technol., vol. 40, no. 3, pp. 632-639, 1 Feb.1, 2022. https://doi.org/10.1109/JLT.2021.3124092 .

Requirements

Research Field

Engineering

Education Level

Master Degree or equivalent

Research Field

Physics

Education Level

Master Degree or equivalent

Research Field

Technology

Education Level

Master Degree or equivalent

Languages

FRENCH

Level

Basic

Research Field

Engineering

Years of Research Experience

None

Research Field

Physics

Years of Research Experience

None

Research Field

Technology

Years of Research Experience

None

Additional Information

Website for additional job details

https://emploi.cnrs.fr/Offres/Doctorant/UMR6164-DAVGON-016/Default.aspx

Work Location(s)

Number of offers available

1

Company/Institute

Institut d'électronique et des technologies du numérique

Country

France

City

RENNES

Geofield

Where to apply

Website

https://emploi.cnrs.fr/Candidat/Offre/UMR6164-DAVGON-016/Candidater.aspx

Contact

City

RENNES

Website

http://www.ietr.fr

STATUS: EXPIRED