doc. Ing. Matěj Komanec, Ph.D.

Hollow-core photonic bandgap fibers (HC-PBGFs) and anti-resonant fibers (ARFs) are becoming available with attenuation below 5 dB/km. The drawing technology is almost mature. Inclusion of these hollow-core fibers in conventional solid-core fiber-based optical systems is necessary. Both HC-PBGFs and ARFs guide light in air and thus provide extremely low fiber non-linearity, low and stable signal latency, the possibility to construct long-length gas cells. The PhD research will be to focused on efficient light coupling from solid-core fibers into hollow-core fibers and vice versa for specific research applications. The research will include simulation of light propagation, and the design and development of an interconnection based on our world-unique approach or using our cutting-edge CO2 fusion splicer. The successful candidate will join our research group and will work on a fully international level in cooperation with one of the world-leading institutes in hollow-core fibers, the University of Southampton. Other literature: M. Komanec, D. Suslov, S. Zvánovec, Y. Chen, T. Bradley, S. R. Sandoghchi, E. R. Numkam Fokoua, G. T. Jasion, M. N. Petrovich, F. Poletti, D. J. Richardson, and R. Slavík, Low-Loss and Low-Back-Reflection Hollow-Core to Standard Fiber Interconnection, Photonics Technology Letters, IEEE Photonics Technology Letters, 2019, submitted.

Specialty optical fibers (SOFs) are becoming the state-of-the-art solution for both research and application fields. Among the SOF types relevant to this Ph.D. topic we can find silica side-glow fibers and microstructured optical fibers covering visible to mid-infrared wavelength regions. These fibers bring unprecedented freedom in many areas ranging from fiber-optic communications, fiber-optic sensing to fiber-based design and illumination. The Ph.D. research topic will cover all aspects from the design of a novel fiber-optic communication/sensor system, throughout the characterization of particular SOFs to the final application. The focus will be placed on the fiber structure and integration of the SOF segment to the fiber-optic system, where the Ph.D. candidate will in the first phase propose and model the fiber-optic system and then, in the second phase experimentally verify its parameters in the selected application. The successful candidate will join our research group and will work on a fully international level in cooperation with one of the world-leading institutes in specialty optical fibers and their applications, e.g. at the University of Southampton, at the University of Valencia, or at the University of Gran Canaria.