During the Photonics Summer Camp 2023, participants actively participate in a research project which focus on key areas of photonics research and are mentored by leading scholars and experts. Students are matched with professors based on their interests and expertise. 

Some of the research topics in Photonics Summer Camp 2023 are outlined below:

Photonics of Complex Systems: Professor Andrea Fratalocchi

  1. Artificial intelligent photonics hardware for machine vision and ultra-sensitive detection.
  2. Machine learning adaptive metamaterials.
  3. Neuromorphic optoelectronic hardware for on-chip cognitive computing.

Professor Boon Ooi

  1. All solar-driven scalable ammonia production - a semiconductor approach to world food production: 
    • The project focuses on identifying promising photoelectrodes for photoelectrochemical nitrogen reduction reactions in large-area under a completely solar-driven process. Specifically, we are looking to design novel photoelectrodes with excellent photo-charge carrier generation, superior catalyst activity, and high selectivity. Further, the project includes identifying alternative water sources such as seawater/wastewater. Once developed, the technology is anticipated to solve the disparity in fertilizer distribution and delocalize its production to individual farms.

  2. Ultrawide bandgap semiconductors for power electronics, semiconductor photonics, and quantum technology:
    • The project focuses on the development of group-III oxide and its hybrids for pushing the frontiers of advanced semiconductor epitaxy technologies. Leveraging highly sophisticated and state-of-the-art epitaxy techniques and heterostructures development, characterization experiments will be carried out targeting the eventual design and fabrication of devices. The use-inspired research targets the domain of electric vehicles, power transmission as well as quantum bit processing, and secure communication.

  3. State-of-the-art distributed fiber sensing:
    • The project focuses on the development of electronics and photonics for ultra-sensitive, multi-sensing using lasers. The selection and integration of hardware and electronics will be carried out to continue to improve our award-winning laser-sensing box. The industry-driven research has already fulfilled the demands of several real-world applications in all-weather and multi-scenario environments and infrastructure sensing.

Professor Carlo Liberale

  1. High-resolution 3D printing of novel photonic devices.
  2. Development of a chemically sensitive microscope for label-free bioimaging.

Semiconductor Optoelectronic Micro-devices: Professor Kazuhiro Ohkawa

  1. Development of novel InGaN-based quantum-well light emitters for micro-LED displays and retina direct-laser-drawing displays.
  2. Optical and structural analyses of nitride semiconductor layers grown by MOCVD at KAUST.

Professor Mohamed-Slim Alouini

  1. Study of free space optical communication for integrated Ground-Air-Space networks.
  2. Study of laser-powered drones.
  3. Development of resource allocation schemes for aerial visible light communications.

Professor Xiaohang Li

  1. AlGaN deep UV LEDs.
  2. Ultra-small micro DUV LEDs.
  3. Deep UV photodetectors.

Integration of On-Chip Light Sources: Professor Yating Wan

  1. Integrated Quantum Dot Lasers on Silicon.
  2. Integrated photonics for artificial intelligence and neuromorphic computing.
  3. Linewidth narrowing in self-injection-locked on-chip lasers.