Free Education Switchable Materials at Netherland

Department/faculty: Applied Sciences
Level: Master degree
Working hours: 38 hours per week (1 FTE)
Contract: Four years
Salary: Maximum of € 2558 per month gross

The Radiation Detection & Matter (RD&M) section conducts intensive research on the physics of light-emitting inorganic semiconducting or insulating materials. Our main expertise concerns the light emission of lanthanide impurities. Through many years of applied and fundamental research on scintillators, lamp and display phosphors, afterglow and storage phosphors, general models have been developed in our section that explain and predict observed phenomena. This has resulted in the invention of exciting new scintillators like LaBr3:Ce3+ that are now commercially available and applied to radiation detection instruments for space exploration and medical diagnostics. Our models also allow for the design of new lanthanide-based photonic materials.
Job description
RD&M has a PhD student vacancy in the field of switchable materials. Materials that switch from a semiconductor (transparent) to a metal (reflective) by a single pulse of laser light can be used as building blocks for fast optical switches. Such all-optical switches, in which light pulses are controlled by other light pulses, are needed to avoid slow electrical switching in optical data communication networks and may be applied in future optical computers. Several binary lanthanide materials display a heat- or pressure-induced reversible semiconductor-to-metal (SM) phase transition with spectacular reflectivity changes at the regular telecommunication wavelength. So far, the dynamical aspects of this switching process have not been addressed. You will study this unique reversible SM phase transition in a new class of switchable lanthanide materials. You will also study the dynamics of the phase transition by triggering it with ultra-short pulses of laser light. The goal is to gain a fundamental understanding of this photo-induced phase transition and to study its potential for fast photo switches. The project will be carried out in collaboration with several university groups in Bern, Ghent, Eindhoven and Paris specializing in material synthesis. Besides the internal facilities you will have the opportunity to perform measurements at other Dutch universities.

Requirements
Applicants should preferably be experimental physicists with a background in solid-state physics and/or photonics. Experience with lasers or laser-induced processes is an advantage. Delft University of Technology is a bilingual organization; a good command of written and spoken English is essential.

Conditions of employment
The successful candidate will be employed full-time by the TU Delft for a fixed period of 4 years within which he or she is expected to write a dissertation leading to a doctoral degree (PhD thesis). The monthly salary for a PhD will be to a maximum of € 2558 gross in the fourth year. Benefits and other employment conditions are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities. Delft University of Technology strives to increase the number of women in higher academic positions; women are therefore especially encouraged to apply.

Information and application
For more information about this position, please contact Dr. E. van der Kolk, phone: +31 (0)15-2783464, e-mail: e.vanderkolk@tudelft.nl. For information about the application procedure, you are welcome to contact Mw. J. M. A. Buurman, phone: +31 (0)15-2785244, e-mail: j.m.a.buurman@tudelft.nl. To apply, please e-mail a detailed CV along with a letter of application by April 30, 2008 to Dr. van der Kolk. When applying for this position, make sure to mention vacancy number TNWRRR08-021. Internal candidates have preference in selection. TU Delft is an equal opportunity employer.

http://www.vacaturesindelft.nl/vacature.php?id=1065&lang=eng