Mid-IR frequency combs enabled by semiconductor saturable absorption mirrors (SESAMs)

Organisation/Company CNRS C2N Department Photonique Research Field Physics » Optics Physics » Quantum mechanics Physics » Applied physics Physics » Solid state physics Engineering » Electrical engineering Researcher Profile First Stage Researcher (R1) Recognised Researcher (R2) Established Researcher (R3) Positions Postdoc Positions Application Deadline 31 Aug 2026 - 00:00 (Europe/Paris) Country France Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Full-time Hours Per Week 40 Offer Starting Date 1 Sep 2026 Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Horizon Europe - ERC Reference Number Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description

We have an opening for a two-year (initially) post-doctoral appointment at University Paris Saclay (France) and CNRS, with the Centre for Nanosciences and Nanotechnologies (C2N).

You will integrate the Mid-IR /THz Quantum Devices Team, specialized in the development of novel optoelectronic devices exploiting quantum electro-dynamic effects at mid-infrared wavelengths (1) (2).

Located south of Paris, University Paris Saclay extends across a vast local area and is ranked as France's top university. The salary level can be negotiated depending on the candidate experience. The project is supported by an ERC Advanced Grant (project SMART-QDEV).

The goal of this project is to develop self-starting passively mode-locked compact lasers with ps pulses, enabled by novel semiconductor saturable absorption mirrors (SESAM (3)) covering the whole mid-IR (4). Compact lasers mean semiconductor-based lasers, or fiber based lasers.

The project aims at generating mid-IR frequency combs with tabletop interband/quantum cascade lasers, relying on SESAMs with controllable figures of merit (saturation intensities, non-saturable losses…). And also developing initial applications.

This rich physics permits the development of several device families, even beyond this post-doc proposal, but all in development in the Host Team.

The post-doctoral project will evolve in this context. As a post-doc, you will first identify suitable target laser systems (QCL and ICL mainly). After this you will focus on developing and validating SESAMs with figure of merits adapted to such lasers. In particular, the various figures of merit of the devices (saturation fluence, non-saturable losses, speed…) will be carefully gauged. Finally, the laser + SESAM system will be implemented in order to study/achieve/demonstrate mode-locking, and related applications (dual comb spectroscopy for instance) will be explored. Some effort will be also devoted to the implementation of tools and measurement benches for frequency combs characterization in the mid-infrared. Such tools will be also shared with other research lines in the team.

See the attached .pdf document for full details.

The successful applicant will have completed an experimental PhD program in Physics, Optics or Engineering. The position is available immediately.

References:

• (1) M. Malerba, M. Jeannin, S. Pirotta, L. Li, A. G. Davies, E. Linfield, A. Bousseksou, J.-M. Manceau, and R. Colombelli, Appl. Phys. Lett. 119, ).
• (2) E. Cortese, N. L. Tran, J. M. Manceau, A. Bousseksou, I. Carusotto, G. Biasiol, R. Colombelli, and S. De Liberato, Nat. Phys. 17, ).
• (3) U. Keller, Nature 424, ).
• (4) M. Jeannin, E. Cosentino, S. Pirotta, M. Malerba, G. Biasiol, J. M. Manceau, and R. Colombelli, Appl. Phys. Lett. 122, ).
• (5) R. Boyd, Nonlinear Optics, 3rd Edition | Robert Boyd | ISBN (Academic Press, 2008).
• (6) U. Keller, D. A. B. Miller, G. D. Boyd, T. H. Chiu, J. F. Ferguson, and M. T. Asom, Opt. Lett. 17, ).
• (7) M. Jeannin, J. M. Manceau, and R. Colombelli, Phys. Rev. Lett. 127, ).
• (8) M. Jeannin, E. Cosentino, S. Pirotta, M. Malerba, G. Biasiol, J.-M. Manceau, and R. Colombelli, Appl. Phys. Lett. 122, (2023).
• (9) D. Bajoni, J. Phys. D Appl. Phys. 45, ).
• (10) J.-M. Manceau, S. Zanotto, T. Ongarello, L. Sorba, A. Tredicucci, G. Biasiol, and R. Colombelli, Appl. Phys. Lett. 105, ).
• (11) S. Zanotto, R. Degl'Innocenti, J. H. Xu, L. Sorba, A. Tredicucci, and G. Biasiol, Phys. Rev. B - Condens. Matter Mater. Phys. 86, ).
• (12) M. Knorr, J. M. Manceau, J. Mornhinweg, J. Nespolo, G. Biasiol, N. L. Tran, M. Malerba, P. Goulain, X. Lafosse, M. Jeannin, M. Stefinger, I. Carusotto, C. Lange, R. Colombelli, and R. Huber, Phys. Rev. Lett. 128, ).

Requirements

Research Field Physics » Solid state physics Education Level PhD or equivalent

Research Field Physics » Applied physics Education Level PhD or equivalent

Research Field Physics » Quantum mechanics Education Level PhD or equivalent

Research Field Physics » Condensed matter properties Education Level PhD or equivalent

Skills/Qualifications

The work is experimental, but with an important part devoted to quantum/ electromagnetic simulations for device design. We are looking for highly motivated candidates with experience in some (not necessarily all) of the following fields: physics and technology of semiconductor devices; electromagnetic modeling; cleanroom manufacturing; laser physics; optoelectronic characterization techniques; design of quantum hetero-structures.

The successful applicant will have completed an experimental PhD program in Physics, Optics or Engineering. The position is available immediately.

Specific Requirements

Consortium and Funding: This project will benefit from collaborations with the laboratories IES (Montpellier), LPA/ENS (France), TU Wien (Austria), Laboratory CORIA/CNRS (Rouen), Le Verre Fluoré. Funding is provided by an ERC Advanced Grant.

Languages ENGLISH Level Basic

Research Field Physics » Other Years of Research Experience 1 - 4

Additional Information

The salary level can be negotiated depending on the candidate experience. The project is supported by an ERC Advanced Grant (project SMART-QDEV).