Please note: unless otherwise specified, the internships are only available for students with a nationality of an EU-member state and/or students from a Dutch university.
DIFFER (Dutch Institute for Fundamental Energy Research) is one of the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO) institutes and focuses on a multidisciplinary approach to energy research, combining physics, chemistry, engineering and materials science. The institute is based on two main strands, solar fuels for the conversion and storage of renewable energy and fusion-energy as clean and unlimited source of energy. DIFFER is developing and supporting a national network on fundamental energy research and is closely collaborating with academic institutions, research institutes and industry. As of 2015 the institute is located in a new building at the campus of Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e).
In the PSN group we are interested in the strong interaction between light and matter. This is a quickly evolving field of research in which new materials, experimental techniques and theories are realized continuously. In our group, we have developed a unique near-field microscope that can detect and analyse radiation in the deep infrared region of the electromagnetic spectrum, i.e., the terahertz (THz) frequency range. This region holds great promise for applications in non-invasive testing, imaging and spectroscopy as well as high speed wireless communication. These applications will benefit greatly from the development of structures that could achieve switching on ultra-fast timescales. We work with resonant structures that can strongly couple THz radiation with matter to achieve this ultra-fast switching. Our unique microscope can map the local electric field vectors near these structures, thereby gaining new insight into the fundamental processes in these strongly coupled systems.
Bachelor Project:
Project goal: The development and realisation of a fibre coupled THz near-field emitter/ detector that will enable a flexible implementation of THz detection and emission in the direct vicinity of resonant structures.
Skills that you will acquire: working with ultra-fast laser systems, working with optics, design and implementation of your own device.
Master Project:
Project goal: Design a resonant system that can capture, hold and release THz radiation on demand, showing ultimate control over the propagation of radiation through that system. This research will provide new ways to store and process information without the need of converting it to electrical signals.
Skills that you will acquire: working with ultra-fast laser systems, working with optics, simulate, create and measure your own photonic structures.
If you are interested in this project, please contact Prof. Jaime Gomez-Rivas (j [368] gomezrivas [28] differ [368] nl) or Niels van Hoof (N [368] J [368] J [368] vanHoof [28] differ [368] nl).
