Delft University of Technology

Post-Doc, Faculty of Applied Sciences

post-doc

Thesis Title: Rigorous Simulations of Emitting and Non-Emitting Nano-Optical Structures

About

Olaf Janssen graduated in 2006 from the Eindhoven University of Technology after a theoretical study on surface plasmons and extraordinary transmission in slits using a finite-element method (FEM).  That same year, as a junior researcher in the Optics Research Group at Delft University of Technology, he developed his own finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) simulation code and applied the code to lithographic mask imaging problems.
In November 2010, Olaf received his PhD from the same group under the supervision of prof.dr. H. Paul Urbach. The work consisted of a thorough theoretical study on various nano-optical systems such as LEDs, solar cells and nano-antenna arrays. Existing systems were simulated and also optimized, solving for scattering, radiation and inverse electromagnetic problems. Experimental backup and funding was provided by Philips Research and FOM institute AMOLF via Technology Foundation STW.

Currently, Olaf is finishing the loose ends of his PhD work and is applying his algorithms to OLED problems at the TNO/IMEC Holst Centre.

Olaf's scientific interests are not bound to a handful of buzzwords. However, to name a few, in the course of his PhD project he has worked on applications such as: (O)LEDs, solar cells, VCSELs, optical (bio)sensors, mask imaging for optical lithography with techniques belonging in the fields of nanophotonics, surface- and local plasmonics, diffractive optics, inverse problems, (local) optimization and the reciprocity theorem.

These topics were tackled using rigorous simulation code which has given Olaf a realistic understanding of methods such as FDTD, FEM and modal methods. In writing a general FDTD code for electromagnetic problems he could satisfy his interests in programming languages, code optimization, high performance computing, and parallel- and distributed computing.

In general, Olaf's interest is in mechanisms and physical processes and less in a specific application or field (of physics). Peak satisfaction is obtained if the results can be properly visualized or distilled into an animation.

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