See also
Physical Layer Research Group - PhD Research Projects
PhD research projects are currently available in the following areas. Some projects listed may also be suitable for the MSc by Research – please contact the member of academic staff involved if you are interested in the MSc by Research. Please note that funding opportunities, if available, are advertised on our Funding page.
- Compact Atomic Clocks (Rubidium) with ultra low phase noise and excellent long term stability
- Development of material, wiring loom, and joint models for efficient Electromagnetic Simulation
- Development of spin-based nanodevices for future microelectronics
- Fully Epitaxial Spin Operator
- Half-metallic ferromagnetic films
- Half-metallic magnetic materials for spintronics
- High Intensity Radiated Field - Synthetic Environment (HIRF - SE)
- Immunity of circuits and systems to Electromagnetic Interference
- Instrumentation for EMC measurements
- Measurement of Non-Linear Devices in Reverberation Chambers
- Microwave generation from patterned magnetic nano wires
- Modelling and design of semiconductor laser sources for high-power and ultrafast operations
- Multi-band microwave bandpass filter synthesis
- Segmental Hydration Analysis by Resonant Perturbation (SHARP)
- Statistical Electromagnetics
- Total body volume in a stirred mode chamber
- Use of Reverberation Chambers for Communications systems testing
- Wireless Sensor Networks in vehicles
Compact Atomic Clocks (Rubidium) with ultra low phase noise and excellent long term stability
Prof Jeremy Everard, email: jkae@ohm.york.ac.uk
The aims of this project will be to develop compact Atomic Clocks (Rubidium) with ultra low phase noise and excellent long term stability. Introduction:
Atomic clocks offer very high long term stability and accuracy by using hyperfine energy level transitions which occur at microwave frequencies. These hyperfine transitions are very stable and accurate and therefore International time is defined using atomic clocks which are compared around the world. The definition for a second is currently based on transitions in Caesium.
Sophisticated communications and satellite systems (including GPS) often use small atomic clocks to maintain accuracy. It is this area of high performance compact atomic clocks that we wish to investigate here. More details about this project can be found on Jeremy Everard's home page ( http://www-users.york.ac.uk/~jke1/ ).
Development of material, wiring loom, and joint models for efficient Electromagnetic Simulation
Dr John Dawson, email: jfd1@ohm.york.ac.uk
Whilst the basic principles of numerical modelling are well known, much work is required in efficiently modelling the complex behaviour of small features in larger models. The aim of this project is to develop improved models for composite materials (e.g. carbon fibre), joints between panels, and wiring looms. Composite materials, are difficult to characterise and hard to model. Joints between panels often determine the electromagnetic behaviour of aircraft yet are poorly characterised and difficult to model. Current models of wiring looms often do not properly consider the behaviour of the insulating dielectrics. In order to improve these areas of modelling, measurements of features, and the development of specialist jigs to do so will be required.
Development of spin-based nanodevices for future microelectronics
Dr Yongbing Xu, email: yx2@ohm.york.ac.uk
This research project will design, fabricate, and characterise nanoscale spintronic devices. The aim is to explore electron’s spin for the next generation microelectronics and nanoelectronics devices, which will run fast and at the same time consume less energy. The project will involve the devices fabrication and characterisation using the state-of-the-art facilities including high quality epitaxy growth, advanced e-beam and focused ion beam lithography, and various structural and properties analysis in the York Laboratory of Spintronics and Nanodevices, and the University NanoCenter.
Fully Epitaxial Spin Operator
Dr Atsufumi Hirohata, email: ah566@ohm.york.ac.uk
The aim of this project is to realise a nano-scale spin operator as a future spintronic device, which combines both a present Si-based processor and a magnetic memory into one device. This project mainly requires the following skills; nano-scale patterning and highly sensitive electrical measurement.
Half-metallic ferromagnetic films
Dr Atsufumi Hirohata, email: ah566@ohm.york.ac.uk
In this study, a successful PhD candidate will explore a spin-filtering effect in a fully epitaxial multilayer at room temperature. Such a spin-filtering film can become an ideal spin source for the spin operator with realising highly efficient spin injection as compared with the conventional ferromagnet.
Half-metallic magnetic materials for spintronics
Dr Yongbing Xu, email: yx2@ohm.york.ac.uk
This research project will investigate the growth, magnetic and magneto-transport properties and structures of various half metallic materials on semiconductor substrates. The aim is to develop high quality materials for the second generation of spintronics with high efficient spin injections. The project will involve the materiel growth using the advanced molecular beam epitaxy growth in the York Spintronics and Nanodevice Laboratory and the state-of the-art nanofabrication facilities in the university NanoCenter.
High Intensity Radiated Field - Synthetic Environment (HIRF - SE)
Prof Andy Marvin, email: acm@ohm.york.ac.uk
This project is supported by an EU FP7 project concerned with the development of a computational electromagnetic framework intended to replace physical measurements in the airframe certification process. This project is undertaken as part of a large European consortium or airframe manufacturers and universities and involves both the detailed modelling of the electromagnetic fields caused by a variety of types of sources around an airframe and complementary measurements. The work at York is mainly concerned with computationally efficient solutions to energy balance problems inside airframes containing cables and energy dissipating structures such as seats and bodies. A programme of measurement will also be necessary to support and validate the modelling.
Immunity of circuits and systems to Electromagnetic Interference
Dr John Dawson, email: jfd1@ohm.york.ac.uk
The aim of this project is to develop methods of characterising the immunity of components and predicting the immunity of electronic systems to electromagnetic intererence. Current methods of measuring component immunity provide limited information on how the component will perform as part of a system. The problem of predicting system immunity to electromagnetic interference presents a significant challenge without accurate characterisation of components (e.g. integrated circuits). However using statistical and approximate methods it may be possible to predict the likelihood of system failure in a way that allows the designer to spot weaknesses and compare alternate designs. The project will involve the development of statistical models and measurements to determine component and system immunity to validate those models.
Instrumentation for EMC measurements
Prof Andy Marvin, email: acm@ohm.york.ac.uk
The project is supported by York EMC Services Ltd, a spin-off company of the Department of Electronics. The company produces bespoke test equipment and is particularly interested in research into applications of radiating noise sources at high microwave frequencies used for test system validation and shielding measurements.
Measurement of Non-Linear Devices in Reverberation Chambers
Prof Andy Marvin, email: acm@ohm.york.ac.uk
The interaction of radio frequency interference with a complex digital electronic syetem is often measured in an electromagnetic reverberation chamber. We are interested in the interaction of the radio frequency energy with the non-linear devices in the electronic equipment. Our current work has concentrated on single non-linearities and we are now ready to move onto the examination of the interaction of multiple arrays of non-linear devices that would mimic a real electronic system. This project is a combination of measurement and modelling and would suit a Physics or Electronics graduate.
Microwave generation from patterned magnetic nano wires
Dr Yongbing Xu, email: yx2@ohm.york.ac.uk
This research project will investigate the microwave generation and detection from nanometre scale magnetic wire patterned with advanced e-beam and focused ion beam lithography. The aim is to explore if a local microwave can be generated by a dc current, and how to enhance the microwave power for future communication applications. The project will involve the materiel growth using evaporators, the lithography, and microwave and transport measurement.
Modelling and design of semiconductor laser sources for high-power and ultrafast operations
Dr Eugene Avrutin, email: eaa2@ohm.york.ac.uk
The project will build on the previous work on both ultrafast and high-power laser sources to model numerally and to design coherent arrays of semiconductor lasers capable of emitting powers in the range of hundreds of milliwatts to watts and above. An emphasis will be on the dynamics of such arrays, and ways of optimising the construction for combining high-power and ultrafast pulse output will be investigated. The resulting constructions may find applications in industry, surgery, measurements, and sensors, and collaboration with industry is envisaged. Good mathematical and programming skills will be required from an applicant, and some knowledge of optoelectronics and semiconductors is desirable.
Multi-band microwave bandpass filter synthesis
Dr Ruwan Gajaweera, email: rg515@ohm.york.ac.uk
In recent years there has been a rapid development in dual and tri-band communication systems and now researches are concentrating on cognitive radio which can be operated in multiple frequency bands. In all of those systems RF or microwave bandpass filter (BPF) is a vital building block in transmitter and receiver chains. Even though there are matured synthesis techniques available for single band BPFs the synthesis techniques for muti-band RF/microwave BPFs are still in its early stages. In this project you are required to develop a novel filter synthesis technique for multi-band microwave BPFs.
Segmental Hydration Analysis by Resonant Perturbation (SHARP)
Dr Martin Robinson, email: mpr@ohm.york.ac.uk
Resonant cavity perturbation techniques to measure the dielectric properties of materials have applications ranging from industrial component testing to measurement of moisture content of agricultural products. Changing from a closed to an open cavity would enable medical applications of this technology such as the diagnosis and monitoring of arthritis, and of fluid retention in limbs or around the heart. The challenges of developing these methods require a combination of radio frequency measurements and computational electromagnetic simulations.
Statistical Electromagnetics
Dr John Dawson, email: jfd1@ohm.york.ac.uk
Many electromagnetic problems such as determining the electromagnetic immunity of or emissions from a vehicle or electronic system are too complex to be solved in detail. Also variations of physical layout, component parameters, between similar models often make it impossible to know the detail. The aim of this project is to investigate approximate and statistical techniques to allow rapid estimation of electromagnetic compatibility of systems.
Total body volume in a stirred mode chamber
Dr Martin Robinson, email: mpr@ohm.york.ac.uk
Accurate measurement of body volume has important medical applications in body composition research and in nutritional studies. A more comfortable method than water displacement would be to place the subject in a ‘stirred mode environment’ in which low-power radio waves are propagated randomly in a resonant room, and the change in their statistics owing to the presence of a body determines its volume. The work would involve both measurements and simulations, and collaboration with body composition researchers at Leeds General Infirmary.
Use of Reverberation Chambers for Communications systems testing
Dr John Dawson, email: jfd1@ohm.york.ac.uk
It is possible to produce a controlled Rayleigh or Ricean channel using a screened room, with a mechanical stirrer, and radio absorbent material to control the delay spread. The proportion of direct to scattered energy can be controlled by antenna selection, placement and orientation. The aim of this project is to further develop techniques to measure radio performance so that a wide range of realistic channels can be simulated in a controlled environment. The technique may also be extended to allow MIMO systems to be evaluated.
Wireless Sensor Networks in vehicles
Dr John Dawson, email: jfd1@ohm.york.ac.uk
The aim of this project is to develop wireless sensor networks for operation in vehicles. The conducting body of a vehicle presents a unique propagation environment with multiple, reverberant compartments, which exhibit a large delay spread, along with the need to couple energy between departments. This project will involve developing models, and investigating by measurement, the performance of wireless sensor networks along with the development of low power protocols in collaboration with the Communications research group.
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