PhD studentship (CDT): Leaky Wave Acoustics
 
The studentship is part of the UK’s Centre of Doctoral Training in Metamaterials (XM2) based in the Departments of Physics and Engineering on the Streatham Campus in Exeter.  Our aim is to undertake world-leading research, while training scientists and engineers with the relevant research skills and knowledge, and professional attributes for industry and academia.
The 4-year studentship is funded 50:50 by an industrial sponsor and the College of Engineering, Mathematics and Physical Sciences at the University of Exeter. It is of value around £105,000, which includes £13,000 towards the research project (travel, consumables, equipment etc.), tuition fees, and an annual, tax-free stipend of approximately £16,500 per year for UK/EU students.

Eligible candidates: UK/EU nationals only due to industry sponsor requirements.

Please visit www.exeter.ac.uk/metamaterials to learn more about our centre and see the full list of projects that we have on offer this year.

Project Summary

The ability to emit or receive sound with directional dependence is of great relevance to acoustic imaging and navigation applications. A classic example of the use of sound for navigation is echolocation employed by bats and marine mammals. Although this is useful information, a single omnidirectional source-receiver pair will only tell the distance between the two with no information about direction. This PhD project will use a single source coupled to a passive array of so-called ‘meta-atoms’. ‘Meta-atoms’ are resonant building blocks that play an analogous role to that of conventional atoms when we consider the acoustic response of natural materials. 3D arrangements of these building blocks are artificial crystals termed ‘metamaterials’, where the structure of the meta-atom, and its proximity to its neighbours, define the manner in which the crystal interacts with acoustic waves. We will focus on the use of meta-atoms as passive resonant elements to yield highly directional radiation or detection of sound.

For information about how to apply, and the application criteria, please see the project description on our website, http://www.exeter.ac.uk/studying/funding/award/?id=3456 

Please email metamaterials@exeter.ac.uk if you have any enquiries about the application process or would like to discuss the project informally with the admissions tutor or supervisors.