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Optics Division
(Division coordinator: Erling Riis)

The Computational Nonlinear and Quantum Optics (CNQO) Group applies theoretical and computational approaches to investigate problems associated with the fundamental nature of light-matter interactions as well as the capabilities of nonlinear optical devices based on or using laser light. ChaosHighlight topics include spontaneous formation of patterns in nonlinear optics, quantum cryptography, and information theory, control of spatial and temporal disorder in optical devices, quantum images, cavity solitons, short pulse generation, virtual design of optoelectronics systems, quantum theory of optical measurements, and Bose-Einstein Condensates. This group has state-of-the-art computational facilities and is a pioneer in the use of visual simulation to study nonlinear optical phenomena. There are extensive research collaborations with groups in the EU, Australia, Japan, Russia, and the USA.

The Photonics Group is interested in an extremely broad area of experiments, linked by the common element of the photon, i.e. its generation and utilisation in coherent laser radiation and in matter wave physics.

Atom Optics: We use lasers to cool atoms to 0.1mK, and in 2003 we made Scotland 's first Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC=coherent matter wave) at a chilly 10nK. We recently made one of the world's first storage rings for BECs, and an EPSRC-funded experiment to condense a new species, calcium, is well underway.

Single-atom imaging: the goal of this group is to realize single-atom- and spin-resolved in-situ imaging of strongly correlated fermions in an optical lattice.

Nonlinear Photonics: This work is directed at understanding and controlling the highly nonlinear dynamics of semiconductor lasers, especially the all-optical manipulation of microlasers and solitons.

Quantum Cascade Lasers: An excellent source of tunable laser in the mid-infrared (3-25micron) wavelength range, we exploit the frequency chirp developed during pulsed operation for molecular spectroscopy and the sensing of atmospheric pollutants at ground and low atmosphere levels.

Members of the Optics Division

  • Academic: | Prof Stefan Kuhr | Prof Stephen Barnett | Prof Allister Ferguson | Prof Ernesto Estrada | Prof Gian-Luca Oppo | Prof Erling Riis | Dr John Jeffers | Dr Nigel Langford | Dr Thorsten Ackemann | Dr Francesco Papoff | Dr Brian McNeil | Dr Gordon Robb | Dr Shashank Virmani | Dr Daniel Oi | Dr Aidan Arnold |
  • Research: | Dr Alison Yao | Dr Thomas Brougham | Mr Matthieu Vangeleyn | Dr Paul Griffin | Mr Jonathan Pritchard | Dr Fiona Speirits | Mr Graham Bruce | Dr Chidi Nshii | Dr Elmar Haller |
  • Visiting Professors: | Prof Rodney Loudon | Prof Les Allen | Prof Antonio Politi | Dr Bryan Dalton | Prof Rodolfo Bonifacio |
  • Technical: | Mr Bob Wylie | Mr Ewan Maclagan |
  • PGRS: | Mr Lawrence Campbell | Mr Craig McIntyre | Mr Christopher Burrows | Mr David Wilson | Prof Andrew Colin | Mr David Dunning | Mr Domenico Cuozzo | Ms Aline Dinkelaker | Mr Nikhil Ratanje | Mr James McKelvie | Mr Antonio Jose Marques Trindade | Mr Filippo Miatto | Mr Enrico Tesio | Mr Kerem Halil-Shah | Mr Yoann Noblet | Mr Martin Diver | Mr Pengfei Tian | Mr Shuailong Zhang | Mr Andrew Kelly | Miss Caroline Foucher | Mr Christopher Carson | Mr Christopher Travis | Miss Electra Eleftheriadou | Mr James Henderson | Mr James Hudson | Miss Kaila Hall | Mr Pedro Gomes | Mr Robert Cameron | Mr Rumelo Amor | Mr Russell Campbell | Jesus Jimenez-garcia |

Current Grants

Stephen Barnett, EPSRC (2010-2014), £895916
Title: Challenges in Orbital Angular Momentum

Gordon Robb, EPSRC (2010-2014), £269577
Title: Modelling Condensed Matter Systems with Quantum Gases in Optical Cavities

Paul Griffin, Royal Society of Edinburgh (2009-2014), £407349
Title: Microphotonic Quantum Registers: Single Trapped Atoms for Quantum Simulation

Gian-Luca Oppo, EPSRC (2011-2014), £197693
Title: Super-resolution optical microscopy via nonlinear self-focusing

Brian McNeil, STFC (2011-2014), £195367
Title: Free Electron Lasers and Advanced Light Sources

Francesco Papoff, Royal Society (2012-2014), £12000
Title: Time resolved energy transfer and localization in nanophotonic structures

Daniel Oi, Strathclyde - Faculty of Science Starter Grant (2011-2013), £10000
Title: Quantum System Characterisation and Space-based tests of quantum entanglement using cubesats

Thorsten Ackemann, Leverhulme Trust (2010-2013), £248948
Title: Self-organisation in samples of cold atoms

Erling Riis, Other industry (2009-2013), £21525
Title: ESA project

Nigel Langford, Cascade Technologies (2009-2013), £0
Title: Development of a Compact Coupling Scheme for QC Laser Based Field Instruments - Studentship

Erling Riis, NPL (2010-2013), £32000
Title: Microfabricated Ion Traps

Stephen Barnett, DARPA (2010-2013), £241114
Title: Information on a Photon: Free-Space Quantum Communication

Thorsten Ackemann, Royal Society (2011-2013), £11915
Title: Cooperative effects and nonlinear optics in dense ensembles of cold atoms

Francesco Papoff, Non Applicable (2012-2013), £2500
Title: EEF - Virtual Internationalisation Network

Ernesto Estrada, EPSRC (2011-2012), £13705
Title: Mathematics of Large Technological Evolving Networks (MOLTEN)

Aidan Arnold, Strathclyde - Research development fund (2011-2012), £41190
Title: Micro-fabricated magneto-optical traps for metrology

Erling Riis, EPSRC (2009-2012), £574594
Title: Small-scale ring traps for atom interferometry and quantum fluid investigations

John Jeffers, NERC (2008-2012), £68543
Title: NERC Doctoral Training Grant

Stephen Barnett, Royal Society (2007-2012), £90000
Title: The Royal Society - Research Merit Award

Aidan Arnold, EPSRC (2009-2012), £6334
Title: UK Network for research at the interface between cold-atom and condensed matter physics