Research Themes
| Optical Materials and Structures | |
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Contact: Heike Ebendorff, Tanya Monro Our research focuses on developing new glasses with novel optical properties, fabricating micro and nanostructured soft glass optical fibres, developing novel silica and polymer fibres including the capacity for rare-earth and nanoparticulate doping. We have a strong focus on developing glass and fibres capable of transmitting light in the mid-infrared and THz spectral regions. Our modeling capability allows us to develop new theoretical frameworks for understanding waveguides and fibres with extreme properties and nanoscale features. |
| Novel Light Sources | |
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Contact: Andre Luiten, David Lancaster We research and develop novel free space, fibre and chip lasers operating at new wavelengths, regimes and high powers. The need for these is driven by applications in astronomy (guidestar), gravitational wave detection (LIGO), supercontinuum generation, defence applications and laser radar (LIDAR). |
| Molecular Materials and Surfaces | |
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Contact: Christopher Sumby, Andrew Abell Our chemistry teams develop new novel biological and chemical surface coatings and surface functionality to enable the realisation of sensors for specific chemicals and biomolecules. There are research programs synthesising novel molecules for ion trapping and fluorescencebased sensing architectures. Other programs are developing new materials for catalysis and efficient storage of gasses. |
| Chemical and Radiation Sensing | |
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Contact: Nigel Spooner, Tanya Monro Using in-house and specialty optical fibre with unique surface coatings developed by our chemistry teams, we have research programs developing novel optical fibre based chemical sensors for water quality, corrosion sensing and environmental monitoring. We are researching new fibre based radiation dosimetry sensors for medicine, industry and defence. Our Center of Expertise in Luminescence, which houses the most comprehensive collection of these systems in the world, develops new forensic luminescence techniques and provides a range of training and dating services to industry. |
| Medical Diagnostics and Biological Sensing | |
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Contact: Peter Hoffmann, Tanya Monro We are developing new technologies in conjunction with clinicians and biologists, which push the boundaries of speed, sensitivity and sample volumes. We have produced optical fibre-based dip sensors capable of measuring chemicals and biomolecules in concentrations as low as <0.2nM from picolitre volume samples. Our novel Surface Plasmon Resonance systems are capable of label free diagnostics of pathogens and biomarkers. |
| Atmosphere, Space and High Energy Astronomy | |
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Contact: Gavin Rowell, David Ottaway From the search for gravitational waves using ultra-precise lasers (LIGO), the development of LIDAR systems for measuring wind fields for wind farms, to pollutants at industrial sites and the detection of cosmic and gamma rays, the research teams within remote sensing develop, deploy and refine a range of photonic technologies for |
