Overview

Dr. Rasool is passionate and committed to R&D activities that deliver innovative photonic solutions for the public and advanced applications. He has a solid academic foundation in photonics, including a Master's degree from India and a Ph.D. from Institut Foton-Université de Rennes 1 in Brittany, France, along with extensive international R&D experience across diverse photonics domains, encompassing integrated silicon photonics for quantum communication, material spectroscopy, ultrafast nonlinear optics, optical component/system design, solid state/liquid laser development, random laser development for quantum cryptography, optical fiber fabrication, characterization and application, complex photonic setups, and automation.

His recent doctoral research (2018-2023) focused exclusively on extensive experimental optical quality testing and optimization of integrated photonic chips containing III-V microdisk resonators monolithically integrated on silicon and GaP photonic platforms (GaP/Si and GaP/AlGaP/GaP). He successfully developed a sophisticated optical bench setup integrating both manual and automated chip testing procedures utilizing SMF28 dimpled fiber tapers to couple the laser. These fiber tapers are fabricated in submicron size for wafer-level chip access and optimized for efficiently coupling different wavelength regimes. Losses in the novel GaP/Si platform with efficiently managed random distributed crystal growth defects are measured in the linear regime, and on-chip nonlinear frequency up converters (Second/Third Harmonic Generations, telecom to NIR and visible wavelengths) are demonstrated for on-chip to off-chip optical data transfer and quantum communication.

He possesses hands-on experience with Python, LabVIEW, and MATLAB software for device automation, data acquisition, and analysis, as well as proficiency in using a variety of optical instruments for complex optical bench setups such as broadband, tunable, and femto-pico-second ultrafast high-power lasers, microscopes, optical spectrum analyzers, spectrometers, photodetectors, EDFA fiber amplifiers, fiber optics components, free space optics components, streak cameras for ultrafast light phenomena, and modulators. He has hands-on experience with Zemax OpticStudio, Ansys/Lumerical, and COMSOL Multiphysics software for optical system modeling and EM simulations. He is also capable of performing statistical data analysis using IGOR Pro software.

Through his previous roles in photonics projects at esteemed international R&D centers, he has consistently demonstrated excellence and achieved significant milestones. In brief, he began his research career in 2013 as a photonics R&D project assistant at the International School of Photonics (ISP)-India by developing a dye-doped hollow core polymer optical fiber laser for the visible wavelength regime and later as an intern developing a tunable liquid dye laser for spectroscopic applications. During his time at the prestigious Tata Institute of Fundamental Research-India, he was honored with the Best Project Award for his work on the construction of a random laser for Quantum Random Number Generation (QRNG). Additionally, at National Taiwan University-Taiwan, he received the prestigious Research Visiting Program fellowship and constructed an optical nonlinearity-based intensity autocorrelator setup. This cost-effective system can measure femtosecond laser pulse duration in photonics laboratories, which is evidence of his commitment to cost-efficient solutions. Furthermore, his international visit to the Australian National University-Australia offered him a project opportunity on the maintenance of an External Cavity Diode Laser (ECDL) at 780 nm, showcasing his quick adaptability and collaborative spirit in diverse environments. Managing to work on such a wide array of photonics projects ensures his problem-solving skills and technical expertise.