Research Groups

We have 30 research groups working on a variety of individual and collaborative projects. A common theme of our research is to apply our extensive optical toolbox to new and developing areas, such as biosensing and manufacturing.

To give you an idea of the disciplines our groups are working on, we have categorised them into broad themes. Note that some groups have more than one theme due to the multi-disciplinary nature of our research.

A full alphabetical list of our groups can be found at the bottom of this page.

Optical Materials involves the discovery, fabrication and characterisation of substances with new or interesting optical properties.

Groups include: Integrated Photonic Devices | Nonlinear & Microstructured Optical Materials | Novel Glass & Fibre | Physical Optics | Planar Optical Materials |Pulsed Laser Deposition | Silica Fibre Fabrication

The history of the optic fibre is closely linked to the ORC, and today the innovation continues as new fibre designs and techniques continue to be developed.

Groups include: Advanced Fibre Technologies & Applications | Distributed Optical Fibre Sensors | Microstructured Fibre | Novel Glass & Fibre | Optical Sensors & Instrumentation | Silica Fibre Fabrication

Light Generation and Manipulation covers Lasers, Optical Parametric Oscillators and non-linear devices that perform, for example frequency conversion. This covers a wide range of techniques and devices, but aimed at the same end result.

Groups include: Advanced Solid-State Sources | Fibre Bragg Gratings | High Power Fibre Lasers | Infrared Science & Technology | Integrated Photonic Devices | Nonlinear & Microstructured Optical Materials | Optical Parametric Oscillators | Physical Optics | Planar Waveguide & Slab Lasers |Pulsed Laser Deposition | Ultrafast Laser X-Ray Group

Historically, the ORC has participated in the key innovations that enable the worldwide optical networks. This work is continuing today, as new techniques push out the boundaries of communication speed and cost.

Groups include: Advanced Fibre Technologies & Applications | Distributed Optical Fibre Sensors | Optical Sensors & Instrumentation | Photonic Systems Circuits and Sensors 

Some of the most exciting emerging technologies involve the interaction of light at the smallest levels. These groups are working with sub-micron structures and devices with a range of applications, including biological work that is set to create a new wave of medical advancement.

Groups include: Integrated Photonic Devices | Nonlinear & Microstructured Optical Materials | Optical Biosensors & Biophotonics | Ultrafast Laser X-Ray Group

Many of the ORC's greatest achievements come from exploring the fundamentals of optics and quantum electronics. These groups are improving the understanding of light and matter to feed our own insatiable appetite for discovery.

Groups include: Infrared Science & Technology | Physical Optics | Scanning Near-Field Optical Microscopy

• Advanced Fibre Technologies & Applications |Professor D J Richardson
• Advanced Solid-State Sources |Professor W A Clarkson
• Computational Nonlinear Optics | Dr P Horak
• Distributed Optical Fibre Sensors |Dr T P Newson 
• Fibre Bragg Gratings |Dr M Ibsen 
• High Power Fibre Lasers |Professor J Nilsson 
• Infrared Science & Technology |Professor H N Rutt 
• Integrated Photonic Devices |Professor J S Wilkinson
• Laser-Induced Forward Transfer |Professor R W Eason
• Microstructured Optical Fibres |Professor D J Richardson 
• Nanophotonics & Metamaterials |Professor N I Zheludev
• Nonlinear & Microstructured Optical Materials |Professor R W Eason
• Novel Glass & Fibre |Professor D W Hewak 
• Optical Biosensors & Biophotonics |Dr Tracy Melvin 
• Optical Fibre Communications | Telecommunications Devices and Sub-systems 
  Professor D J Richardson and Dr Periklis Petropoulos   
• Optical Microfibre Devices and Sensors |Dr G Brambilla
• Optical Parametric Oscillators |Professor D P Shepherd 
• Optical Sensors & Instrumentation |Professor J P Dakin
• Photonic, Electronic and Plasmonic Microstructured Optical Fibres |Dr Pier Sazio
• Photonic Systems Circuits and Sensors |Professor Graham Reed  
• Physical Optics |Professor P Kazansky 
• Planar Optical Materials |Dr P G R Smith
• Planar Waveguide and Slab Lasers |Dr Jacob Mackenzie
• Power Photonics & Applications |Dr Yoonchan Jeong 
• Pulsed Fibre Lasers |Professor D J Richardson 
• Pulsed Laser Deposition |Professor R W Eason
• Semiconductor Fibre Devices for Nonlinear Photonics | Dr Anna Peacock
• Scanning Near-Field Optical Microscopy |Dr W S Brocklesby 
• Silica Fibre Fabrication |Dr J K Sahu
• Silicon Photonics | Professor Graham Reed
• Ultrafast Laser X-Ray | Dr Bill Brocklesby