Microwave Photonics Systems

ENIB; France; Sur place; EUR 30 000 - 50 000; Plein temps

Résumé du poste

A research institution in France is offering a full-time postdoctoral position focusing on microwave photonics systems development. The role involves characterizing and integrating photonic mixers and phase shifters to enhance wireless communication technologies. Candidates should possess a PhD in Engineering or equivalent, with strong skills in RF filters, phase-shifters, and microwave simulations. Strong English is required, and a basic level of French is preferred. This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to innovative research at the forefront of communication technologies.

Qualifications

• PhD or equivalent required for the postdoctoral position.
• Good knowledge of RF filters and phase-shifters necessary.
• Experience with microwave simulations and photonics systems.

Responsabilités

• Implement and test microwave photonics system architecture.
• Characterize all-optical frequency mixer and design RF phase shifters.
• Demonstrate phase shift operation and system integration.

Connaissances

RF filters and phase-shifters

Microwave simulations (HFSS, ADS, …)

Microwave photonics

Photonics systems

Experimental measurements

Formation

PhD or equivalent

Description du poste

Organisation/Company: ENIB; Research Field: Engineering » Electronic engineering. Researcher Profile: Recognised Researcher (R2) Positions, Postdoc Positions. Country: France. Application Deadline: 31 Jan 2026 - 23:59 (Europe/Paris). Type of Contract: Temporary. Job Status: Full‑time. Hours Per Week: 35. Offer Starting Date: 1 Mar 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 project we are proposing will be carried out within the Lab‑STICC laboratory (UMR CNRS 6285) bringing together researchers from Bretagne INP‑ENIB, in the field of photonics, and UBO, in the field of microwaves. It is a part of the largest project Pleiades of the French National PEPR program. The PLEIADES project focuses on the contribution that photonic technologies can have on increasing the performance of wireless networks and what supports them. Traditional communication systems, operating in the microwave and millimeter frequency bands in wireless networks, are approaching their limits in terms of transmission capacity. In PLEIADES, we aim to tackle the optical source challenge and to investigate sub‑THz photonics‑to‑wireless converters.

We propose the architecture of a microwave photonics system for frequency up‑conversion and phase shifting. The incoming signal at intermediate frequency (IF) is first frequency up‑converted, thanks to a photonic mixing stage, to be adapted to the antenna bandwidth. Then a tunable phase shifter, based on Semiconductor Distributed Doped Areas (ScDDA) technology, is used for beam steering with an antenna array. This concept is being developed at Lab‑STICC laboratory.

The photonic mixer is based on cross‑gain modulation (XGM) in a Semiconductor Optical Amplifier (SOA). An optical pulse clock, i.e. an optical pulse train, potentially at very high repetition rate, is amplified by the SOA. At the same time, an intensity‑modulated optical carrier at intermediate frequency is also amplified by the SOA. The IF signal, typically at few GHz, modulates the optical gain of the SOA and then the optical pulse train through XGM phenomenon. As a consequence, after a photodetection stage, the IF signal is frequency shifted towards high frequencies possibly up to the THz range, depending on the clock frequency and the harmonic rank considered, limited by the SOA optical bandwidth. The optical gain modulation bandwidth that depends on the carrier dynamics limits the IF signal bandwidth. It can be improved strongly by accentuation techniques or by making the SOA working at low temperature. Moreover, cooling the SOA improves the modulation efficiency.

After recovering the electrical signal behind the photodiode, a filter module and/or phase shifter will be required to feed an antenna in an antenna array. It will also be necessary to control the phase shift between each antenna in order to beam‑forming the radiation pattern of the antenna array. These microwave devices (filter and phase shifter) will be based on the ScDDA technology.

The first steps of the study will be: all‑optical frequency mixer characterisation, ScDDA‑based microwave phase shifter design and characterisation, system integration and demonstration at 40 GHz. Subsequently, the use of optical parametric oscillators (OPO), developed by another team of researchers within the framework of the Pléiades project, is envisaged for higher target frequencies. In that case, a new design of the RF phase shifter is necessary.

The first objective is to implement, test and demonstrate the phase shift operation up to 40 GHz, considering the available experimental facilities. Then we plan to demonstrate that the architecture is relevant at higher frequencies by using OPO as optical oscillator.

Where to apply

E‑mail: [e-mail]

Requirements

Education Level: PhD or equivalent.

• RF filters and phase‑shifters
• Microwave simulations (HFSS, ADS, …)
• Microwave photonics
• Photonics systems
• Experimental measurements

• English – Good
• French – Basic

Additional Information

Eligibility criteria: Opinion of the Security and Defense Official prior to recruitment.