About this role
<p>The DLR Institute of Communications and Navigation is dedicated to mission-oriented research in selected areas of communications and navigation. Its work ranges from the theoretical foundations to the demonstration of new procedures and systems in a real environment and is embedded in DLR's Space, Aeronautics, Transport, Security and Digitalization programmes.</p><p><strong>What to expect</strong></p> <p>The Institute of Communications and Navigation researches optical satellite communication and quantum key distribution (QKD) and operates optical ground stations (OGS) for these purposes. In this thesis you will investigate a scalable multi-aperture concept for optical receivers in which many small telescopes form a large effective collection area. Instead of a single large aperture with a complex adaptive-optics system, cost-efficient small apertures with simple tip/tilt tracking are combined coherently. This modular approach promises lower cost and weight as well as a system architecture that can be upgraded incrementally. You will analyse and model the optical performance of such an array (e.g. fibre coupling, impact of atmospheric turbulence) and study beam-combining techniques based on photonic integrated circuits. Your results will feed into ongoing research on QKD downlinks and coherent free-space optical communication.</p> <p><strong>Your tasks</strong></p> <ul> <li>Literature review of multi-aperture receiver concepts and coherent beam combination</li> <li>Modelling and simulation of the optical performance, including, e.g., fibre-coupling efficiency, Fried parameter, tip/tilt correction</li> <li>Trade-off analysis of sub-aperture size, number and geometric arrangement</li> <li>Assessment of technologies for beam-combining: tip/tilt correction modules, fibre stretchers, photonic integrated circuits, closed-loop phase stabilization via reference signals</li> <li>Presentation of the results in a thesis</li> </ul> <p><strong>Your profile</strong></p> <ul> <li>Ongoing Master’s studies in physics, aerospace engineering or a related field</li> <li>Basic knowledge of optics/photonics</li> <li>Good programming skills (e.g. Python, MATLAB or other scripting languages)</li> <li>Independent analytical way of working</li> <li>Fluency in English</li> </ul><p><span id="cke_bm_7743S" style="display:none"> </span>We look forward to getting to know you!</p> <p> </p> <p>If you have any questions about this position (<strong>Vacancy-ID <strong>5477</strong></strong>) please contact:</p> <p><strong>Florian Moll</strong></p> <p> Tel.: +49 (0) 8153 28 2876</p>