Quantum Enhanced Imaging with Micro-LED Ultrafast Electronic Visual Display Technology

光子学研究所是国际公认的微型发光二极管（micro-LED）的先驱，构成了一种新的高亮度微显示器和背光技术-例如，应用于先进的虚拟和增强现实耳机。这些器件在应用领域中已经证明了其有趣的功能，远远超出了简单的显示功能，包括生物光子学，无线光网络和量子级成像。这项技术的吸引力在于它与CMOS电子器件的直接接口、极高（兆赫兹）帧速率的操作以及千兆比特/秒的数据传输。这些微发光二极管的发射波长和高速调制特性使其成为硅单光子雪崩二极管（SPAD）检测的理想光源，SPAD可以检测具有亚纳秒定时精度的单光子，并可以制成单光子敏感图像传感器。低分辨率的micro-LED阵列具有高达16 x16的元件和kHz的更新速率，已经与SPAD一起用于3D成像、多光谱成像和低亮度通信的概念验证演示，每比特运行几个光子。该项目将把这些早期的概念演示转化为高像素数和MHz更新速率的未知领域。该研究基于新一代128 x128 LED阵列，目前正在光子学研究所与爱丁堡大学合作开发，并提出了一系列新的挑战和机遇。为了在每秒数百万帧的状态下操作这些大型阵列，必须以纳秒精度精确地控制70多个并行数字控制信号的定时。成功的申请人将帮助开发满足这些需求的电子控制接口，研究它们在不同设备配置中的效果（例如，从深紫外到绿色的不同LED发射波长），并将它们与特定应用的需求联系起来，特别是与量子增强成像国家量子中心联系起来的应用。他们将把这些LED阵列集成到原型系统中，用于微加工、具有单光子灵敏度的高帧率成像以及融合传感和通信功能的新数字系统。该项目将包括光学系统设计和开发，电子驱动器和软件编码，以及稀疏数据信号处理技术，所有这些都是学术研究和工业研发的高需求技能。博士生将有机会获得最先进的，定制的LED和SPAD阵列设备，光学表征设施和软件工具，并将有助于英国的量子技术国家计划。

The Institute of Photonics is a recognised international pioneer of microscopic light-emitting diodes (micro-LEDs), constituting a new high-brightness microdisplay and backlighting technology - being applied, for example, to advanced virtual and augmented reality headsets. These devices have proven interesting capabilities in application areas well beyond simple display functionality, including biophotonics, wireless optical networks, and quantum level imaging. The attraction in this technology is underpinned by direct interfacing to CMOS electronics, operation at very high (Megahertz) frame rates, and data transmission at gigabits/second. The emission wavelength and high-speed modulation characteristics of these micro-LEDs make them an ideal source for detection with silicon single photon avalanche diodes (SPADs), which can detect single photons with sub-nanosecond timing accuracy and can be fabricated into single photon sensitive image sensors. Low resolution micro-LED arrays with up to 16x16 elements and kHz update rates have already been used together with SPADs for proof-of-concept demonstrations in 3D imaging, multi-spectral imaging, and low light level communications operating at a few photons per bit.This project will transform these earlier concept demonstrations into an unexplored regime of high pixel count and MHz update rates. The research is based on a new generation of 128x128 LED arrays, which are currently being developed at the Institute of Photonics in collaboration with the University of Edinburgh, and which present a host of new challenges and opportunities. In order to operate these large arrays in the millions of frames per second regime, it is necessary to accurately control the timing of more than 70 parallel digital control signals with nanosecond precision. The successful applicant will help to develop electronic control interfaces that meet these demands, investigate their effect in different device configurations (e.g. different LED emission wavelength from deep ultra-violet to green), and link them to demands from specific applications, in particular those linked to the National Quantum Hub on Quantum Enhanced Imaging. They will integrate these LED arrays into prototype systems for microfabrication, high frame-rate imaging with single photon sensitivity, and new digital systems that merge sensing and communications functions. The project will encompass optical systems design and development, electronic driver and software coding, and sparse data signal processing techniques, all of which are skills in high demand both in academic research and in industrial R&D. The PhD student will have access to state-of-the-art, custom LED and SPAD array devices, optical characterisation facilities and software tools, and will contribute to the UK's National Programme on Quantum Technologies.