PhD Studentship in Developing the Next Generation of Deployable Telescopes

Number of awards

1

Start date and duration October 2024 3.5 years

Award

100% home tuition fees paid and annual living expenses of £19,237

Deadline 28^th July 2024

Overview

The successful launch, in-orbit alignment, and operation of the James Webb Space Telescope have demonstrated a bright future for in-orbit deployable telescopes. Considering that launch costs scale with spacecraft mass and volume, an optical payload with deployable optics and a telescope becomes an attractive concept to benefit from lower launch platform costs without compromising on the telescope aperture size. A space telescope equipped with a deployable primary mirror can, in principle, use actuated individual segments to recreate a larger synthetic aperture than the launch vehicle size, enabling higher spatial resolution than a non-deployable telescope would deliver.

Efforts are now being made to adapt this principle to smaller, more cost-effective platforms. One challenge is the phasing of the segments to ensure they work constructively to recreate a synthetic aperture at a level of a fraction of a wavelength. Another challenge lies in the opto-mechanical design, ensuring no stress is applied to the segments, so they provide optimal image quality after deployment.

This PhD project in collaboration with Durham University and Surrey Satellite Technology Limited (SSTL), aims to explore novel deployable concepts from existing telescope designs developed by SSTL. Applications are anticipated in Earth observation, space situational awareness, free-space optical communications, and space astronomy. The most exciting concepts will be prototyped and tested, potentially leading to a future mission.

We are looking for an enthusiastic candidate with a background in optical engineering, physics, or photonics. You will join a cutting-edge research group in optical instrumentation at the Centre for Advanced Instrumentation at Durham University and work in cooperation with a leading industry in small satellite technology. The project will benefit from our state-of-the-art space optics manufacturing capabilities, cleanroom, and space qualification facilities. The role is based at Durham University main campus but also at the NetPark Research Institute located in Sedgefield) and will involve temporary placements at SSTL

The department is committed to promoting diversity, and we particularly encourage applications from under-represented groups.

Sponsor Durham University and Surrey Satellite Technology Limited (SSTL)

Name of supervisor(s) Dr Cyril Bourgenot and Dr Steven Knox

Eligibility Criteria

You must have or expect a First Class honours Bachelor's degree, or at least a 2:1 Integrated Master’s degree or a Master's degree in an appropriate subject, from a recognised university (or equivalent).

Applications are open to Home Fee candidates.

How to apply

You must apply through the University’s applicant portal

You will need to:

• State CfAI in the 'Field of Study' section.

• attach a covering letter and CV
• attach degree transcripts and certificates and, if English is not your first language, a copy of your English language qualifications.
• provide 2 referee contact details (specifically email addresses) who we will contact directly.

Contact

For informal enquiries please contact cyril.bourgenot@durham.ac.uk

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