Southampton celebrates all things photonic

Hot topics for photonics experts – from enhancing LEDs for backlights in TVs, to the assembly of fluorescent molecules into new nanostructures using DNA – were in focus at the Optoelectronics Research Centre (ORC) at the University of Southampton recently.

The world-class research centre celebrated the broad area of photonics, or the study of light, with its fifth annual Photonics Day.

Originally suggested by Professor David Hanna, Photonics Day has become an important annual event for the ORC, bringing together researchers from across the University to network and share their work in photonics. The event is also helping to strengthen the University’s position in driving cutting-edge photonics research.

The program for this year, arranged by the ORC’s Dr Bill Brocklesby and Dr Kevin MacDonald, consisted of three themed sessions – Nano, Exotic States and Sources. Presentations from the Schools of Chemistry, Electronics and Computer Science, Maths, Physics and Astronomy as well as the ORC.

A networking lunch was combined with a display of research posters, providing the opportunity for students and postdoctoral researchers in different fields of study to interact with one another.

Advances in the telecommunications, manufacturing, security and defence industries have been influenced by research in photonics at Southampton, as well as the development of novel materials and devices in the nanoscale arena.