Multilayer metasurfaces for compact quantum imaging

About the project

This project will develop compact quantum imaging sensors using multilayer metasurfaces and entanglement-enabled holography. Building on successful bilayer nanofabrication, you'll design, fabricate and test devices for imaging under strong noise and distortion.

This project will develop compact quantum imaging sensors that use entanglement-enabled holography to recover information from photon-pair correlations. The goal is imaging under strong background noise and optical phase distortion. Potential applications include machine vision and optical inspection of components under challenging illumination conditions. Our long-term ambition is to reduce both system size and cost tenfold.

Metasurfaces are planar nanostructures that shape light. By stacking layers with complementary functions, we aim to replace bulky optical assemblies with compact modules for beam shaping, splitting and polarisation analysis. With recent funding support from the Royal Society, the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and the Leverhulme Trust, our team has successfully demonstrated bilayer nanofabrication. You'll build on this foundation to develop multilayer devices, with substantial hands-on cleanroom work supported by structured training. No previous nanofabrication experience is required.

You'll take your own device designs from simulation through fabrication to testing in a quantum imaging experiment. Electromagnetic and quantum photonic modelling will guide the designs. Early photon-pair measurements will inform device development. You'll investigate how layer alignment, optical loss and fabrication tolerances affect imaging performance, and benchmark resilience to background noise and phase distortion against conventional approaches.

You'll develop expertise in quantum device engineering. Southampton’s Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT) in Quantum Technology Engineering provides technical and commercial training, an industry placement and opportunities to learn alongside a cohort working across quantum technologies.

Dr Xu Fang

• Metasurfaces for automotive sensing and healthcare
• Extreme light manipulation at the nanoscale

Dr Peter Horak

• Theory and simulation of nonlinear and quantum optics
• Laser pulse propagation and manipulation in optical fibres
• Quantum technology, integrated optics, optical resonators

Entry requirements

You must have at least a UK 2:1 honours degree or its international equivalent .

Fees and funding

Funding is available on a competitive basis through the EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Quantum Technology Engineering at the University of Southampton.

UK students receive a 4 year UKRI TechFirst tax-free stipend of £30,000 per year. Studentships at the UKRI minimum rate are available for EU, Horizon Europe and International students.

Overseas students who have or are seeking external funding are welcome to apply.

While undertaking your research project, you'll also receive substantial training in scientific, technical and commercial skills.

How to apply

Apply now

Please apply via the online portal and select:

Applications should include:

• Academic year: 2027/28
• If you will be full time or part time
• Faculty: Engineering and Physical Sciences
• Search for PhD Quantum Tech Eng
• Add the name of the supervisor in section 2 of the application
• your CV (resumé)
• 2 academic references
• degree transcripts and certificates to date

Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences

For questions about applying, email the Centre for Doctoral Training in Quantum Technology Engineering (qte@soton.ac.uk) .

Project leader

For an initial conversation, email Dr Xu Fang (X.Fang@soton.ac.uk) .

Research areas