Our research structure
PTU1 Computational Photonics
This topic unit provides the fundamental basis for the theoretical and computational endeavours in PhoenixD and is a key contributor to 5D photonics. It focuses on design, modelling, simulation and virtualisation of materials, processes and systems. Simulation and prediction guide the experimental activities and open deeper insights into the underlying mechanisms. The thematic activities need to master multiple scales and are based on multi-physics approaches. Interfaces must be defined and units combined. This allows to address and engineer applications in fields such as subatomic and biomedical imaging which were not accessible before and are expected to advance progress in material science and medicine.
PTU2 Matter-Light Interaction
The advancement of optical systems towards 5D photonics along real-time virtualisation requires the dynamic manipulation and configurable generation of classical and quantum light within small-scale/integrated devices. Key characteristics include sustainable power consumption, high transmission performances, and multi-input-parameter light field synthesis capabilities. While major advances have been presented within the last few years, e.g., with the realisation of integrated electro-optical and all-optical manipulation units in thin-film-based waveguide systems, metasurfaces, and optical fibres, performance charac-teristics concerning bandwidth, dynamic range, optical losses, and versatility of multiple input parameters are still limited, hindering the implementation of more complex dynamic photonic networks and 5D photonic test cases.
PTU3 Adaptive Optical Materials
The strength of material implementation of innovative optical systems in PhoenixD lies in the fact that chemists and engineers work hand in hand. While the multi-scale production addresses production aspects on the Manufacturing Grid of the OPTICUM, the focus here is preferentially on the optical materials and their preparation, building on the optical materials. Integral part in addressing technological needs is the synthesis of innovative adaptive materials, which are characterised by various analysis techniques in conjunction with their computational modelling within the simulation platform. Combinations of a functional material (chromophore, nanoparticle) and host material (glass fibre, polymer, porous solid) were found most promising, especially in conjunction with an advanced 3D waveguide design. The scope will be broadened, towards the processing of waveguide/host materials involving lithium niobate and diamond chemical vapor deposition, as well as glass technology for both planar optics and fibres and towards the discovery of versatile and sustainable functional materials at sufficiently large amounts achieved via synthesis up-scaling.
PTU4 Multiscale Production – Manufacturing Grid
The aim is to interconnect and advance established and novel optics manufacturing processes towards flexible process chains, which enable cross-scale and fully automated manufacturing of optical systems. To achieve this, processes investigated in PhoenixD are brought together to create disruptive added value in a shared manufacturing environment: The OPTICUM - a novel intelligent research facility. Integration of manufacturing and measurement technologies is essential for generating highly integrated optical devices. Future integrated systems on different functional materials (glass, diamond, nonlinear materials, and polymers) are envisioned, combining electronic and optical functionalities and enabling signal processing and transmission within a single device. Novel optics computation expertise, materials, and production process-integrated metrology are applied to implement innovative applications.
PTU5 Multi-Modal Computational Optical Metrology
Modern technical systems are equipped with numerous sensors. Devices like smartphones and vehicles monitor both their status and their environment. In simple cases, sensor signals control the system directly. However, in more complex systems the continuous stream of sensor data creates a detailed situational model of the system and its environment. Virtualisation can provide feedback to human operators or be used for various machine applications, such as machine control or a digital family concept. Multi-modal sensor networks with parallel evaluation of extensive sensor data provide greater accuracy, efficiency, and reliability compared to individual measurement systems, and create new functionalities, e.g. predictive maintenance planning and automated detection of anomalies in production processes. Metrology is essential to bridge the real and virtual worlds within these systems, making it a crucial part of PhoenixD’s vision for 5D photonics. Although sophisticated metrology devices currently exist, further advancements are needed in their adaptation, integration into networks, and connection to neural engines, as well as in the exploration of novel concepts. PhoenixD has identified the following topics to contribute to this vision: novel integrated sensor concepts and quantum metrology systems, refining computational metrology for advanced imaging, and processing of large-volume sensor data for optical metrology and a digital family in production environments.
