DC12 – Iker Avila Arenas
ThinkQuantum
Iker Avila Arenas is a researcher with a strong academic and industrial background in photonics, quantum optics, and space-borne optical instrumentation. He holds two Bachelor’s degrees in Physics and Electronic Engineering from the University of the Basque Country (EHU), where he first developed an interest in the interface between fundamental science and applied technology while researching hyperspectral imaging. Pursuing this intersection, he completed the Erasmus Mundus Joint Master’s Degree in Photonics for Security, Reliability and Safety, studying at the University of Jean Monnet (France) and the University of Eastern Finland. His MSc thesis was carried out at the University of Innsbruck in the Photonics group, where he developed a high-repetition-rate multiphoton source based on quantum dots, contributing to ongoing research in quantum optics.
Beyond academia, Iker has gained substantial hands-on experience in the space and Big Science sectors. As an Electronics and Photonics Engineer at Added Value Solutions (AVS), he contributed to space-related and large-scale scientific projects, including the qualification of optical components for the ESA Copernicus hyperspectral mission, the development of high-reliability optical subsystems such as star trackers and stray-light-optimized baffles, and the creation of control software for high-power vacuum laser facilities. This diverse experience has shaped a multidisciplinary profile that combines quantum optics, optical system design, and space instrumentation.
DC12 – Project research
Within the FOCAL project, Iker will conduct his research at ThinkQuantum, where he will advance the design, implementation, and testing of adaptive free-space optical links for classical and quantum-secured communication. His work will strengthen optical system modelling through software-defined design tools such as Zemax, taking into account key parameters including wavelength selection, aberration control, coupling efficiency, and overall optical performance.
Reaching these goals requires novel research on optical ground-station systems, from validating simulation tools through comparison with real field data to adapting and enhancing existing adaptive optics technologies originally developed for astronomy so they can meet the requirements of optical communication.
The research will contribute to the development of optical terminals capable of integrated classical and quantum operation. This includes supporting the design of bidirectional optical ground systems with both transmitter and receiver functionalities, as well as performing a comparative study of conventional and advanced QKD protocols tailored to non-terrestrial network constraints. In addition, the project will deliver system-level trade-off analyses covering wavelength optimization, detector technology selection, coupling strategies, and encoding schemes, ultimately contributing to the development of robust, high-performance free-space communication links.