PhD Position Broadband Semiconductor Photodetectors for Spectropolarimetric Imaging NL, 2628 CD

Develop CMOS-compatible broadband photodetectors for compact spectropolarimetric cameras. You will design, fabricate and characterise detector structures for space-based Earth observation.

Compact instruments that measure both the spectrum and polarisation of light can improve the monitoring of aerosols and other atmospheric constituents from space. The INTERPRETER project is developing an integrated spectropolarimeter in which photonic-crystal filter arrays are combined directly with an imaging detector. This approach could reduce instrument size and enable more scalable acquisition than conventional systems.

This PhD position focuses on a broadband semiconductor photodetector platform spanning the visible and short-wave infrared (SWIR). You will translate system requirements into detector specifications, design and model suitable device structures, develop a CMOS-compatible fabrication and integration route, and fabricate experimental devices. You will characterise spectral responsivity and quantum efficiency, dark current, noise, linearity, uniformity and stability. You will also investigate detector integration with the overlying photonic-crystal filters, including alignment and integration tolerances, optical crosstalk between neighbouring filter‑pixel channels, electrical crosstalk within the detector array, and calibration requirements.

The final objective is to demonstrate and quantitatively benchmark a detector or detector array suitable for integration into a compact spectropolarimetric camera. You will work in the Electronic Instrumentation group of the Department of Microelectronics at TU Delft, supervised by Prof. Kofi Makinwa and Dr. Padmakumar R. Rao. You will collaborate closely with the parallel metaoptics PhD researcher, SRON and the other INTERPRETER partners.

• A Master’s degree in electrical engineering, microelectronics, applied physics, photonics, materials science, nanotechnology or a related discipline.
• A solid foundation in semiconductor device physics, particularly photodetectors or image sensors.
• Experience in at least one of the following: semiconductor processing, cleanroom fabrication, device modelling or TCAD, electrical characterisation, or optical detector characterisation.
• Experience measuring spectral responsivity, quantum efficiency, dark current or noise is an advantage.
• Ability to analyse experimental data and use scientific programming or simulation tools such as Python, MATLAB, COMSOL or equivalent software.
• Ability to plan experiments systematically, quantify uncertainty and document results reproducibly.
• Proficiency in written and spoken English, with the ability to collaborate across device, optics and system disciplines.

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