Phtonics chips interface electronics microscopic enhancement

Programme across the three institutions.

This project seeks to establish a foundational, quantitative understanding of the causal relationship between heavy ion radiation and performance degradation in thin-film lithium niobate (TFLN) photonic chips, transitioning the field from observational failure reporting to predictive, physics-based radiation-hardened design. The research systematically integrates three core objectives: first, quantifying macroscopic device degradation—including insertion loss, modulation bandwidth, half-wave voltage, and single-event burnout susceptibility—as a function of ion species, fluence, electrical bias, and device architecture; second, characterizing the microscopic defect landscape by identifying the types, energy levels, and spatial locations (e.g., interfaces, sidewalls, bulk) of radiation-induced electrically active defects; and third, establishing a direct defect-performance correlation that maps these microscopic defects to specific macroscopic performance losses, thereby revealing the underlying physical mechanisms to enable the development of robust TFLN devices for extreme environment applications.

Joint Supervisory Team

• XJTLU supervisor: Professor/Dr. Yue Liu & Conghua Wen
• XJTU supervisor: Professor/Dr. Hongye Yuan
• UoL supervisor: Professor/Dr. Haijun Wu

Requirements

A UK first-class or upper second-class honours Bachelor's degree and a UK Master's degree with Merit (or their equivalent) are required for PhD admissions. Exceptional candidates holding only a Bachelor's degree may be considered on an individual basis.

Evidence of good spoken and written English is essential. The candidate should have an IELTS (or equivalent) score of 6.5 or above, if the first language is not English.

For more information about entry requirements and admission procedures of PhD programme at XJTLU, please visit:

• Entry Requirement - Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University
• How to Apply - Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University

Other Requirements (if any)

The candidate's excellent programming skills and practical abilities are bonus points.

Programme Structure and Fees

Doctoral students in the joint programme are registered with both XJTLU and the UoL. Upon successful completion of the programme, the students will be awarded a PhD degree from University of Liverpool. During their doctoral studies at XJTLU, students are expected to conduct research at XJTU as visiting students. Additionally, students have the opportunity to apply for a short-term research visit to the UoL if the project requires it.

The joint doctoral programme is offered on a full-time basis, with a typical duration of three to four years. The tuition fee is RMB 99,000 per year.

How to Apply

Interested applicants are advised to email yue.liu@xjtlu.edu.cn the following documents for initial review and assessment (Please include the project title in the subject line):

• CV
• Two formal reference letters
• Personal statement outlining your interest in the position
• Certificates of English language qualifications (IELTS or equivalent)
• Full academic transcripts in both Chinese and English (for international students, only the English version is required)
• Verified certificates of education qualifications in both Chinese and English (for international students, only the English version is required)
• PDF copy of Master Degree dissertation (or an equivalent writing sample) and examiners reports available

For more information, visit the institution website.

Where will I study?

Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (XJTLU) is an international joint-venture university founded by Xi’an Jiaotong University in China and the University of Liverpool in the UK, which captures the essence of both parent universities, offering students the opportunity to obtain globally recognised UK degree and a unique life experience within China.