Research groups

We are dedicated to exploring advanced applications of cutting-edge optical fibres, with a special emphasis on hollow core fibres. These fibres are designed and fabricated by the Zepler Institute Microstructured Fibre group, while our group focuses on aspects of these newly-emerging fibres from the ‘user perspective’.

The Advanced Solid-State Sources group develops novel approaches for scaling output power from lasers for use in a variety of applications including industrial manufacturing, medicine and defence.

We design and develop novel optical fibre sensors capable of measuring temperature, strain, and vibration at thousands of points using a single strand of optical fibre.

We develop new fibre technologies and explore their applications in areas including communications, sensing, lasers, materials processing and imaging.

Hollow core fibres enable gas-light interactions over extended lengths, opening up diverse applications in high sensitivity gas sensing, novel wavelengths generation, and waveguide enhancement.

We are world-leaders in Hollow Core Optical Fibre research. Our ground-breaking fibres guide light at vacuum speeds and unprecedented intensities, enabling advances in telecoms, manufacturing, and sensing.

Exploiting optical interactions at surfaces for bio/chemical analysis.

Microfluidics is the interdisciplinary study of the behaviour, manipulation and application of fluid at the microscale. It underpins the concept of the lab-on-a-chip, where multiple key components and operations are integrated onto one small platform.

We perform fundamental optical physics and materials research. This is critical for the discovery and development of new and improved optoelectronic technologies.

We explore the development and optimization of new semiconductor material platforms for application in nonlinear photonics.

Led by Professor Peter Smith, our group specialises in the development and manufacture of novel optoelectronic devices for applications in quantum technology, integrated optical sensors and laser optics. 

We find new ways to use and apply optical technologies in telecommunications.

Our group develops a variety of innovative optical fibre devices and sensors.

Our group’s research in photonics is helping the development of critical global technologies.

We specialise in developing novel photonic materials, waveguide devices, and laser systems for application in remote sensing, defence, manufacturing, and metrology.

We specialise in developing pulsed laser technology for use in medicine, defence, renewable energy, and manufacturing.

Our research group examines the connections between physics, chemistry and engineering.

We conduct fundamental and applied research in the field of optical fibre technology.

The group works at the forefront of all aspects of silicon photonics. Our work ranges from fundamental study of devices and circuits to close collaboration with industry.

Our interests range from nano-scale biological sensors to complete sensor systems.

Our research vision is to revolutionise manufacturing in the digital era by developing the next generation of ‘smart’ fibre laser tools for medical and biosciences sectors.

We explore how to improve renewable energy sources and create more efficient electronic device technology to benefit the environment.