M/F - Thèse Engineering light-matter coupling in hybrid nanophotonic-2D material structures

Job Description

Thesis Subject

This thesis topic is part of a collaborative ANR project between INL Lyon and the CINTRA laboratory in Singapore.

Context:
Micro-nanophotonics aims to control light at length scales comparable to its wavelength, paving the way for major advances in quantum information, sensing, and energy. In this field, transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs), such as WS₂, WSe₂, and MoS₂, stand out due to their exceptional optical properties: when reduced to monolayers, they exhibit a direct bandgap and strongly bound excitons that remain stable at room temperature.
Their integration into photonic structures enables enhanced light–matter interactions and the design of active optical devices. In particular, photonic crystals provide fine control over light propagation through their periodic structuring, going far beyond conventional optical microcavities.
The combination of TMDs and photonic crystals thus represents a promising platform and opens exciting opportunities to explore strong coupling physics and develop next-generation polaritonic devices for quantum and integrated photonics.

Objectives and Methodology:
This thesis aims to experimentally investigate the coupling between TMD materials (WS₂ and WSe₂ monolayers, as well as MoS₂-based bilayers) and photonic crystals. The main objective is to realize a room-temperature polariton laser based on the coupling between TMD excitons and engineered photonic crystal modes (e.g., flat bands in moiré structures or high-quality-factor resonances such as bound states in the continuum).
This project involves significant challenges in both fabrication and characterization:

Nanofabrication: Development of multilayer photonic structures integrating TMDs, requiring precise control over material quality, photonic crystal fabrication, and transfer processes without degrading optical properties. This work will rely on the Nanolyon platform at INL (two cleanrooms) and on a collaboration with the CINTRA laboratory (Singapore).
Optical characterization: Experimental investigation of light–matter coupling using optical spectroscopy. Both far-field and near-field techniques will be employed to fully characterize optical modes and electromagnetic field distributions.
Numerical simulations: Methods such as RCWA, FEM, and FDTD will support the design of photonic structures and guide experimental parameters.
Research Plan
The PhD student will join the i-Lum team at INL. After an initial bibliographic and technical training phase, the work will focus on optimizing light–matter coupling by exploring various photonic concepts developed within the team (e.g. bilayer or moiré photonic crystals, exceptional points, bound states in the continuum). This will involve both numerical simulations and experimental through the fabrication of micro-nanostructures in clean room and their optical characterization using the laboratory's advanced platforms.

Candidate :
The candidate should have a strong background on nanophotonics and/or physics of semiconductors and/or physics of light-matter interactions, with, if possible, an initial experience in optical spectroscopy and/or micro-nanotechnologies (fabrication and characterization processes). A strong motivation for experimental work (fabrication in clean room, optical characterizations) and the theme of light-matter interaction in micro- and nanostructures is also expected.

Your Work Environment

The Institut des Nanotechnologies de Lyon (INL) aims to develop multidisciplinary technological research in the field of micro and nanotechnologies and their applications. The research carried out ranges from materials to systems. The laboratory is supported by Lyon's NanoLyon technology platform.
The areas of application cover major economic sectors: the semiconductor industry, information technologies, life and health technologies, energy and the environment.
The laboratory is multi-site, with locations on the Ecully and Lyon-Tech La Doua campuses. It employs around 200 people, including 121 permanent staff. The INL is a major player in the Research and Teaching Cluster.
This position is located in an innovative environment, at the cutting edge of future technologies, in strategic application sectors.

Compensation and benefits

Compensation

2300 € gross monthly

Annual leave and RTT

44 jours

Remote Working practice and compensation

Pratique et indemnisation du TT

Transport

Prise en charge à 75% du coût et forfait mobilité durable jusqu’à 300€

About the offer

About the CNRS

The CNRS is a major player in fundamental research on a global scale. The CNRS is the only French organization active in all scientific fields. Its unique position as a multi-specialist allows it to bring together different disciplines to address the most important challenges of the contemporary world, in connection with the actors of change.

CNRS

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