Surface chemistry and gas reactions in hollow-core optical fibres

Supervisory Team: Professor Austin Taranta, Professor Natallie Wheeler and Dr. Hesameddin Mohammadi

Hollow core fibres are transforming applications in communications, sensing, and high-power laser delivery. The aim of this project is to study the fundamental reactions that control the stability and lifetime of these novel fibres which guide light through a gas-filled core instead of solid glass.

The unique design of hollow core fibres allows light to propagate in a gas channel surrounded by a thin silica structure, where trace impurities in the glass network can react with moisture from the environment. These surface reactions can generate gaseous species within the fibre, influencing its optical transmission and long-term reliability, particularly in systems exposed to ultraviolet light or radiation.

In this project, you will investigate the surface chemistry, gas diffusion, and reaction kinetics occurring within hollow-core fibres. You will develop novel optical interrogation techniques to probe characteristic absorption features of gases such as water vapour and other reaction products along the fibre length. This will enable the first in-situ mapping of length-resolved chemical processes inside optical fibres.

Complementary temperature-dependent studies will reveal how environmental factors affect reaction rates and the evolution of gases within the fibre. The insights gained will contribute to developing methods for preventing unwanted reactions in hollow core fibres and for conditioning fibres to enhance their performance and stability in demanding applications. This project is highly relevant to the wider telecommunications and photonics industries.

The ORC provides exceptional laboratory facilities, including cleanrooms, advanced optical testing systems, and gas-analysis tools. You will gain expertise in:

• fibre optics and laser-based diagnostics
• surface and gas-phase reaction analysis
• optical and thermal characterisation methods
• interdisciplinary research across photonics, chemistry, and materials science

Entry requirements

You must have a UK 2:1 honours degree, or its international equivalent, in one of the following:

• physics
• chemistry
• materials science
• photonics

You should be motivated to explore the interface between optics and materials chemistry.

Fees and funding

Full scholarships include tuition fees, a stipend at the UKRI rate plus 10% ORC enhancement tax-free per annum for up to 3.5 years (totalling £22,858 for 2025/26, rising annually) and a budget of £4200 for things like conference travel.

UK, EU and Horizon Europe students are eligible for scholarships. CSC students are eligible for fee waivers. Funding for other international applicants is very limited and highly competitive. Overseas students who have secured or are seeking external funding are welcome to apply.

For more information, please visit our postgraduate research funding pages.

How to apply

You need to:

• choose programme type (Research), 2026/27, Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences
• select Full time or Part time
• search for programme PhD ORC (7097)
• add name of the supervisor in section 2 of the application

Applications should include:

• your CV (resumé)
• 2 academic references
• degree transcripts and certificates to date
• English language qualification (if applicable)

Contact us

Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences

If you have a general question, feps-pgr-apply@soton.ac.uk.

Project leader

If you wish to discuss any details of the project informally, please contact A.A.Taranta@soton.ac.uk.