Characterization of an alumina photonics platform

This internship/master thesis focuses on the experimental characterization of a newly fabricated Al₂O₃ photonic chip. Aluminium oxide is a low-loss, CMOS-compatible platform that, unlike silicon, shows no two-photon absorption or free-carrier effects. Its wide bandgap extends the transparency window into the visible and UV, making it one of the few candidates for integrated quantum photonics systems. Most of these systems operate at a few kelvin, so any photonic platform serving them has to work there too. However the properties of Al₂O₃ at cryogenic temperatures are largely uncharacterized. The core of the internship is a full characterization of the passive properties of the chip at room temperature, including the Python-based instrument automation and data analysis needed to extract them. Depending on the pace and outcome of this first part, the work can be extended with a final set of measurements in a cryostat down to 4 K, to compare against the room-temperature results.

Type of internship: Master internship

Duration: 6-12 months

Required educational background: Nanoscience & Nanotechnology, Materials Engineering, Physics, Electrotechnics/Electrical Engineering

Supervising scientist(s): For further information or for application, please contact Kasper Van Gasse (< e-mail verwijderd om veiligheidsredenen >) and Nina Zdravkovic (< e-mail verwijderd om veiligheidsredenen >)

The reference code for this position is 2026-INT-242. Mention this reference code in your application.

Imec allowance will be provided for students studying at a non-Belgian university.

Applications should include the following information:

• resume
• motivation
• current study

Incomplete applications will not be considered.