About

We perform fundamental optical physics and materials research which is critical for the discovery and development of new and improved optoelectronic technologies. Our interests and expertise include

  • Nano- and picophotonics
  • Photonic metamaterials
  • Optical imaging and metrology at the nanoscale
  • Toroidal electrodynamics
  • Electron beam nanophotonics
  • Photonic ‘Time Crystals’
  • Generation and applications of XUV and soft X-ray radiation

People, projects and publications

People

A researcher in a cleanroom suit with a 200mm wafer in the nanofabrication cleanroom

Nanofabrication cleanrooms

The nanofabrication cleanrooms houses a fully featured suite of semiconductor processing tools as well as a planar fabrication laboratory.
The Focused Ion Beam (FIB) Facility. The image shows three computer screens showing data, with laboratory equipment in the background

Focused ion beam facility

This facility supports research in nanoelectronics, nanophotonics, silicon photonics and quantum devices research.
Fibre tower

Silica fibre facility

We specialise in the manufacture and research of doped and structured fibres. Our equipment includes fibre towers and modified chemical vapor deposition lathes. We also house a range of preform and fibre characterisation tools.
Sir David Payne
Professor of Photonics
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My interests are varied across photonics, particularly in optical fibre design and fabrication, optical materials, optical sensing, and high-power fibre lasers.