Product/Research Description

These two complementary groups concentrate on the properties and applications of guided wave optical systems in communications, instrumentation, signal processing and measurement/instrumentation. The research is complemented by activities in sub-system design and components, at present focussing on novel single mode tuneable fibre lasers and on optoelectronic interrogation systems for advanced sensor networks. The aim is to combine advanced research with active technology transfer and industrial liaison.

The activity in the area of optical networking encompasses expertise ranging from systems development and architectures through sub-system definition supported by device know-how. The group has been particularly successful in securing funding from the EPSRC to investigate the role optical technology will play in the evolution of a future, flexible broadband telecommunication network. The research represents a close collaboration between academic and industrial institutions.

Structural instrumentation is a particular application sector suited to the application of optical fibre techniques, addressing the use of optical fibres as distributed strain, temperature and acoustic/ultrasonic signature detectors, coupled to advanced data interpretation software. In sub-systems and devices, current themes include tuneable and wavelength switchable fibe cavity (sometime fibre gain medium) laser architectures, providing sources for agile gas spectroscopy and for precise system characterisation and an investigation into domain reflectometry systems.

The group is evolving interests in micromechanical optical devices for the control, processing and manipulation of optical signals and in very advanced spectroscopic measurement techniques targeted towards ultra high sensitivities and focusing upon guided wave network architectures. We are also involved in technology transfer projects in distributed measurement systems for moisture ingress and the detection of liquid hydrocarbons and in wide area gas monitoring for safety systems.

Specialised Skills and Facilities

Solid, liquid and gas phase spectroscopy, especially in the near infra-red for remote chemical monitoring. Microelectro-mechanical systems, especially for sensing, included tapered nanoprobes, silicon micromechanics, polymer/ceramic micromechanics. Optoelectronic sub-system design, low noise systems, signal processing/conditioning. Structural monitoring using fibre optic and free space optical techniques. Damage assessment in mechanical structures. Laser generated ultrasound. Guided wave optical components, modulators, switches, amplifiers, laser, filters etc. in integrated optics and fibre optics. Exceptionally strong applications engineering skills built over long experience of characterising and implementing specific measurement issues in mechanical, marine, civil, safety, environmental sensors.

Precision optical bench systems, fibre optic component facbrication (notably overlay devices), thin film deposition and characterisation, liquid crystal manipulation, spectroscopic sources/detectors, laser ultrasound sources and detectors. Precision interferometric decoding/detection in all fibre formats.

Communications networks, optical network design, switching and routing protocols and component design. Noise in networks, especially interferometric phenomena. All-optical and optoelectronic hybrid processing of optical signals.

Two groups collectively number approximately 25 research staff.