Research
Our research area is nano- and micro-structured materials and their applications in photonics and related fields. Our particular focus is photonic crystal fibre (PCF) - a new kind of optical fibre proposed by Philip Russell in 1991. The first example of a working PCF was reported in 1996, and since that time groups all over the world have become active in developing PCF and exploiting its multifaceted applications. In the division we are carrying out a range of experiments that make use of the remarkable properties of PCFs. These include scientific uses of PCF, e.g., low threshold nonlinear gas-laser devices and phononic bandgaps; and technological applications, e.g., biomedical sensors, supercontinuum sources and laser tweezer manipulation of particles in hollow-core PCF.
For articles introducing PCF and its history see:
"Photonic Crystal Fibers: A Historical Account"
IEEE Lasers & Electro-Optics Society Newsletter, 21, 11-15 (2007)
"Photonic Crystal Fiber: Finding the Holey Grail"
Optics & Photonics News, 18, 26-31 (2007)
"Photonic Crystal Fibers"
Science 299, 358-362 (2003)
We are also involved in the following collaborative research projects:
to the top