Internship: Laboratory Demonstrator for Wavefront Sensorless Adaptive Optics
The Department of Signatorics at the Fraunhofer Institute for Optronics, System Technology and Image Exploitation (IOSB) in Ettlingen is offering an internship on the subject of free-space laser communications. This opportunity is aimed at students in the fields of electrical engineering, physics, computer science or related disciplines. Motivation Free-space (not cable/fiber-dependent) optical communications offers a huge potential for many applications involving the transfer of large amounts of data. Still, the limitations imposed on the deployment of such systems by atmospheric effects are significant. In the department Signatorics we work to counter these effects and enable high-data-rate terrestrial and space-to-ground optical communications. Goals Traditional AO systems have three main components: a wavefront sensor, a deformable mirror and a reconstruction computer. Wavefront sensorless AO disposes of the first element and relies on blind optimization algorithms to improve a suitable metric related to the turbulence degradation of the optical system under consideration. The most widely used algorithm in wavefront sensorless AO is the stochastic parallel gradient descent (SPGD). In the project, the student will work on a lab demonstrator to investigate the capabilities of wavefront sensorless AO. Alternatively the student can build a demonstrator based on the newly invented spectral wavefront sensor.
The internship would be based in the Adaptive Optics Group where research themes revolve around imaging through turbulence (especially along horizontal paths and strong turbulence) and free-space laser communications. The team develops simulations, theoretical models, image processing software and adaptive opticssystems. For more information about the Adaptive Optics Group at Fraunhofer IOSB, please visit www.iosb.fraunhofer.de/adaptive-optics.
Putting aside completely disruptive phenomena such as rain or fog, atmospheric turbulence influences the power delivered to the terminal and the number of errors in the transmission. Fraunhofer IOSB addresses the problem with advanced adaptive optics (AO) technology. In the AO laboratory in Ettlingen we develop solutions to the most challenging problem of laser propagation over distances longer than ~1 km through strong turbulence near the ground.
What you will do
What you bring to the table
• You are enrolled in a college or university and study electrical engineering, physics, computer science or a similar subject.
• You have experience with the Matlab, Python or Julia programming language; experience with LabView would be helpful.
• You know the principles of optics and laser physics.
• You have a hands-on mentality and some experience with aligning optical systems.
What you can expect
We value and promote the diversity of our employees' skills and therefore welcome all applications - regardless of age, gender, nationality, ethnic and social origin, religion, ideology, disability, sexual orientation and identity. Severely disabled persons are given preference in the event of equal suitability. Remuneration according to the federal government guidelines for intern salaries.
With its focus on developing key technologies that are vital for the future and enabling the commercial utilization of this work by business and industry, Fraunhofer plays a central role in the innovation process. As a pioneer and catalyst for groundbreaking developments and scientific excellence, Fraunhofer helps shape society now and in the future.
Interested? Apply online now. We look forward to getting to know you!
If you have any questions please contact: Dr. Szymon Gladysz
Adaptive Optics Group Leader
E-mail: kontakt-adaptive-optik@iosb.fraunhofer.de
Fraunhofer Institute of Optronics, System Technologies and Image Exploitation IOSB
Requisition Number: 77676 Application Deadline:
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