Development of heavy-metal-oxide glass fiber lasers for the mid-infrared optical window

ICMCB-CNRS; France; Sur place; EUR 20 000 - 40 000; Plein temps

Résumé du poste

A prestigious research institution in France is seeking a PhD candidate to work on a project focused on mid-infrared fiber lasers based on germano-gallate glass fibers. The role involves synthesizing new glass compositions, conducting characterizations, and optimizing fiber designs in collaboration with an industry partner. Ideal candidates should have a strong background in inorganic chemistry and materials science, along with effective communication skills in both English and French.

Qualifications

• Background in inorganic chemistry and materials science is essential.
• Interest in optics, photonics, and laser technology required.
• Proficiency in relevant software and good communication skills in English and French.

Responsabilités

• Synthesize new compositions of heavy oxide glasses.
• Draw fiber materials for infrared and mid-infrared applications.
• Perform physicochemical and structural characterizations.
• Optimize fiber design through simulations and experiments.

Connaissances

Inorganic chemistry

Materials science

Optics

Photonics

Laser technology

Analytical skills

Problem-solving

Effective communication in English

Effective communication in French

Formation

PhD in Inorganic Chemistry or related field

Outils

Raman Spectroscopy

NMR Spectroscopy

AFM

SEM

TEM

EDS

Auger Spectroscopy

Description du poste

Organisation/Company ICMCB-CNRS Research Field Technology » Materials technology Chemistry Researcher Profile Recognised Researcher (R2) Leading Researcher (R4) First Stage Researcher (R1) Established Researcher (R3) Country France Application Deadline 16 Jul 2026 - 22:00 (UTC) Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Full-time Offer Starting Date 1 Oct 2026 Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Not funded by a EU programme Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description

The mid-infrared (MIR) optical domain, supporting the fundamental vibrational modes of various biological and organic compounds, has garnered significant interest from both academic and industrial sectors, particularly for military, environmental, and medical applications. Within the fiber optic community, the MIR optical window spans from 2.5 to 20 μm, with only a few families of inorganic non-metallic glasses suitable for exploitation, such as heavy-metal-oxide, halide, and chalcogenide-based glasses.

For over a decade, a strong collaboration between the University of Bordeaux and Laval University (Quebec, Canada) has driven the development of robust heavy-metal-oxide glasses, specifically germano-gallate glasses. This partnership has resulted in several milestone achievements, including the fabrication of low-loss fibers, supercontinuum generation, and the ultrafast inscription of laser waveguides. This doctoral project, situated at the intersection of research and development, aims to achieve the first demonstration of efficient mid-infrared fiber lasers based on germano-gallate glass fibers. The project will be conducted as a cotutelle, with the candidate splitting their time between ICMCB in France and COPL in Canada. These laboratories represent a select group of institutions worldwide with the expertise to cover the entire process of fiber-based device creation, from fundamental fiber fabrication to integration into complex optical systems.

Throughout the PhD, the candidate will conduct an in-depth study of glass composition, synthesizing glass via melt-quenching, drawing fibers using the preform-to-fiber method, and characterizing both the fibers and glasses using a range of spectroscopic, thermal, and mechanical analyses. In collaboration with LumIR Lasers company, the candidate will also optimize fiber design through numerical simulations and practical experiments.

Main aspects developed during the project:

• Synthesis of new compositions of heavy oxide glasses and purification of materials
• Fiber drawing of materials for infrared and mid-infrared.
• Physicochemical and structural characterizations (Raman, NMR, luminescence, AFM, Electron microscopies: SEM, TEM, EDS, Auger).
• Optical characterizations and laser functionality tests.

The candidate should have background in inorganic chemistry and materials science. The candidate should have also interest in optics, photonics, and laser technology, and excellent analytical skills. Proficiency in relevant software, problem-solving skills, and effective communication abilities in both English and French are also required.