Efficient design of photonic integrated components for microfluidic flow cytometry

We are seeking a motivated Master's student to embark on an innovative research project focused on development of efficient simulation methods for designing integrated photonics structures (specifically grating couplers) to advance the field of microfluidic flow cytometry. Microfluidic flow cytometry is a pivotal technology that enables the discrimination of different cell types by analyzing their light scattering properties. The core of this project lies in enhancing the performance of integrated photonic structures that play a crucial role in cell illumination and scattering detection.

Traditional design and optimization of integrated photonic components rely on numerical solutions such as finite difference time domain simulations. This approach, while accurate, is notably time-consuming for large computational volumes, often requiring over a day to simulate a single set of parameters, which significantly hampers the ability to perform extensive parameter sweeps necessary for optimizing the designs.

This project aims to surpass these limitations by leveraging the predominantly homogeneous medium of light propagation in microfluidic channel and the availability of analytical solutions for scattering from a dielectric sphere. By doing so, we anticipate a substantial increase in simulation speed, potentially by an order of magnitude or more, thereby facilitating rapid optimization cycles.

Throughout this thesis work, the student will not only refine their expertise in photonic integrated circuit design but will also gain valuable experience in Python scripting for simulation and design automation.