PIC Bootcamp
PIC Bootcamp
We teach people to create photonic-integrated devices for real-world applications.
Our Courses
PIC Bootcamp provides an overview of the skills and expertise required to take a photonic integrated circuit (PIC) from concept to a working product. It has been developed for engineers, physicists, product designers and anyone who wants to understand what each stage of PIC development involves, what knowledge each stage requires, and how the stages depend on one another. It forms the starting point for people wanting to be involved in real-world development of devices based on PICs. The course is coordinated by Cornerstone (University of Southampton, UK).
The programme follows the full development chain across six modules:
Modules
Explorer (free)
1 hour
online
The commercial picture. What PICs can do, their limitations, and the cost, timeline and market factors behind adoption.
Enthusiast (£)
1 Day
In person (Southampton)
How PICs work. Hands-on with real components, covering how they behave, how they vary, and the importance of efficient light coupling.
Practitioner 1 (£)
1 Day
In person, Southampton (UK)
Design and simulation. The skills needed to design and simulate components in Ansys Lumerical, the industry-standard tool.
Practitioner 2 (£)
1 Day
In person, Southampton (UK)
Layout. How designs are turned into foundry-ready layouts, and the role of each foundry's design kit (PDK).
Practitioner 3 (£)
2 Days
In person, Southampton (UK)
Fabrication. Hands-on cleanroom work showing how manufacturing constraints shape design choices and failure rates.
Practitioner 4 (£)
1 Day
In person, Torbay (UK)
Packaging. Fibre coupling, interconnects and thermal management, and their effect on performance, reliability and cost.