The Institute of Photonics and Quantum Sciences

ANNUAL REPORT 20

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THE INSTITUTE OF PHOTONICS AND QUANTUM SCIENCES School of Engineering and Physical SciencesDavid Brewster BuildingHeriot-Watt UniversityEdinburgh, EH14 4ASUK

+44 (0) 131 451 4494ipaqs@hw.ac.ukwww.ipaqs.hw.ac.uk

£10,007,557Research Income

36Faculty

Members

50PDRAs

116PhD and EngD

Students

85Publications

1 Director’s Statement

2 Research Highlights

6 Faculty and Staff

12 Research Projects and Technology Developments

20 New Grant Awards

24 Publications, Patents and Awards

32 PhD and EngD Students

40 Education and Training

44 Outreach and Other Activities

50 Facilities and Equipment

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Welcome to the third annual report from the Institute of Photonic and Quantum Sciences (IPAQS).

IPAQS is one of five research institutes comprising Heriot-Watt’s School of Engineering and Physical Sciences. Formed in 2012, we are one of the UK’s largest concentrations of researchers in photonics, with a breadth extending from applied topics in industrial laser processing and astronomical instrumentation to fundamental concepts in condensed matter physics and quantum optics.

Our staff play a leading role in the UK photonics community, and include Principal and Co-Investigators of major EPSRC investments such as Centres for Innovative Manufacturing, Quantum Technology Hubs and Centres for Doctoral Training. We are also a centre of entrepreneurship and innovation in photonics, with several spin-out companies founded by IPAQS staff.

The last twelve months have seen research highlights in lasers, metamaterials, quantum technology, laser-based manufacturing and photochemistry. As an Institute we continue to work closely with industry, with more than 50 companies collaborating in our research activities. Community culture is important in IPAQS, whether through student-led activities like the OSA Chapter and postgraduate lab tours, or the regular research seminars and the Friday coffee-and-donuts time.

Staff in the Institute interact closely with undergraduates through lectures and final-year project supervision, but also informally in social events such as those run by the Heriot-Watt Physics Society. Activities such as these make IPAQS a vibrant and dynamic home for researchers of all career stages.

I welcome your interest in IPAQS and hope that you find this report interesting and informative.

Director’s Statement

Professor Patrik Öhberg Head, Institute of Photonics and Quantum Sciences

IPaQS Annual Report 20182

RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS

Fig. 1 A sketch of the device made of just a few sheets of atoms Fig. 2 A cartoon of “quantum tunnelling” of electrons (red balls with arrows) between a sheet of graphene (top layer, black atoms) and tungsten diselenide (bottom layer, dark and light blue atoms).

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A single sheet of atoms offers the ultimate limit in miniaturization of flexible electronic and photonic devices. Beyond just physical size, two-dimensional (2D) crystals are intriguing due to highly unique optical, electronic, and mechanical properties. Researchers around the world are investigating if such materials could be used in hardware for future technologies which exploit the bizarre properties of quantum mechanics.

For quantum devices, one must be able to control the number of particles, such as electrons, in the quantum device down to the ultimate limit: just zero or one particle. Writing in the journal Nature Nanotechnology, the Quantum Photonics Lab in IPaQS, together with international partners, have achieved control over the quantum tunnelling between a source of electrons and a region to trap the electron. Quantum tunnelling is a well-established phenomenon whereby subatomic particles can pass through a solid barrier, such as a wall.

Dr. Mauro Brotons-Gisbert explains: “According to quantum mechanics, when the quantum tunnelling is highly likely, a single particle’s position can be described

by a probability that it is located on both sides of a solid barrier. In our device, the solid barrier or ‘wall’ was a single sheet of atoms, so the probability that it could be on both sides was very high, and we were able to tune this simply by changing a voltage to a device. This led to dramatic effects when the light was emitted from the quantum dot.

The 2D material platform offers exciting opportunities to combine different types of atomic sheets, giving us access to unique physics that isn’t possible with conventional bulk semiconductors. Our results show that we can make such devices at the quantum level – controlling a single trapped particle in a deterministic way.”

These new results enable a better understanding of the quantum properties of 2D materials and allows new types of experiments, in particular where the particles which are tunnel coupled to the quantum device can have interesting properties, for instance from a magnetic material or graphene. Ultimately, this could lead to new technologies based on quantum mechanics.

1HighlightControlling quantum particles one-by-one in an atomically thin deviceProfessor Brian D Gerardot | B.D.Gerardot@hw.ac.uk

Fig. 1 Soliton dynamics in a 3 m long, 250 μm diameter, helium-filled hollow capillary fibre. a Soliton self-compression of a 10 fs pump pulse down to 1.2 fs (envelope duration) or 412 attoseconds (field transient) as the pump energy is increased. b Tuneable ultrashort (2 fs) pulse generation from 110 nm to 350 nm. The corresponding peak powers are the highest generated across the VUV region

IPaQS Annual Report 20184

High energy soliton dynamics for optical attosecond pulse generation and a bright table-top vacuum-ultraviolet light sourceDr John C Travers | J.Travers@hw.ac.uk

Publication: J. C. Travers, T. F. Grigorova, C. Brahms, and F. Belli, ‘High-energy pulse self-compression and ultraviolet generation through soliton dynamics in hollow capillary fibres’, Nature Photonics, 2019 (in press)

2Highlight

Solitons, a central concept in nonlinear physics, are particle-like nonlinear wave-packets or pulses that maintain their shape upon propagation and interaction. They appear in many areas of physics, including plasmas, magnetic circuits and the atmosphere. Optical solitons form through the balance of linear effects such as dispersion or diffraction, and the intensity dependent refractive index. A wide range of fascinating and useful soliton dynamics have been discovered in solid-core fibres at up to kilowatt peak powers, and up to megawatt peak powers in gas-filled microstructured fibres. These effects include: pulse self-compression, the emission of radiation analogous to the Čerenkov radiation, inter-soliton collisions, and soliton self-frequency shifting due to interactions with molecular oscillations and plasma. We have identified a new regime of high-energy optical soliton dynamics in large-core gas-filled hollow capillary fibres (HCF), which enable soliton effects to be scaled in magnitude up to the terawatt peak power level.

We have experimentally demonstrated two key soliton effects. First, we observe self-compression to sub-cycle pulses and infer the creation of sub-femtosecond field waveforms with 40 gigawatt peak power (Fig. 1a)—a route to high-power optical attosecond pulse generation, the shortest optical pulses ever created. To measure such short optical pulses we had to design and build a new type of pulse characterization device with the broadest bandwidth yet achieved. Secondly, we efficiently generated continuously tuneable high-energy, 2 femtosecond pulses across the vacuum and deep ultraviolet (110 nm to 400 nm) through resonant dispersive-wave emission (Fig. 1b). These VUV pulses are the brightest ever generated from a laser system, and as bright as those produced in kilometre scale free-electron lasers, despite being produced in a table-top setup. These results promise to be the foundation of a new generation of table-top light sources for ultrafast strong-field physics and advanced spectroscopy.

Enhanced nonlinear optics in bulk epsilon-near-zero materialsDr. Marcello Ferrera | M.Ferrera@hw.ac.uk

3Highlight

Research overview: The ASN Lab (www.asn-lab.org) led by Dr. M. Ferrera seeks for alternative approaches to create future integrated photonic devices based on novel Transparent conducting oxides – (TCOs). With this class of materials Dr. Ferrera and co-workers initiated the new field of metal-free (all-dielectric) plasmonics which allows to drastically mitigate many fundamental technological issues which are plaguing today’s plasmonic components such as high losses, lack of tunability, and incompatibility with standard semiconductor fabrication processes [1]. A key feature of TCOs is that they allow to enter the so-called epsilon-near-zero regime (where the real dielectric permittivity approaches zero) at fundamental telecom wavelengths and without the need for complex 3D metamaterials. In the near-infrared frequency range and close to the crossover wavelength, TCOs nonlinearities have been proved to be remarkable, while losses are still manageable [2]. These unique features of TCO compounds can be ingeniously exploited for gaining an unprecedented freedom in moulding the flow of light on a sub-picosecond time scale. In this direction, Dr. Ferrera wishes to exploit TCOs’ optimized nonlinearities to design a new class of time-varying thin films and devices capable of

performing frequency conversion and wavefront engineering on a sub-picosecond time scale and along propagation distance of few hundreds of nm [3]. These components, besides overcoming the fundamental limit of static operation, will outperform standard plasmonic metasurfaces in terms of energy efficiency, while also enabling a plethora of functionalities which are intrinsically unreachable by traditional flat optics (e.g. non-reciprocal components such as optical isolators and circulators). The applicability of the proposed technology embraces optical imaging, cryptography, pulse shaping, polarization engineering, and enhanced sensing just to mention few. This research follows the current trend towards all-dielectric devices [4], while enabling giant complex nonlinearities and record high figure of merit for quantum information and ultra-fast optics [2;5-6].

[1] Journal of Optics 18 (9), 093005 (2016)[2] Optica, 2 (7) 616-622 (2015)[3] Nano letters 18 (2), 740-746 (2018)[4] Optica 4, 7, 814 (2017)[5] Nat. Commum. 8, 15829 (2017)[6] Journal of Optics 20 (2), 024007 (2018)

Fig. 1 Representation of complex optical nonlinearities in transparent conducting oxides. Photons at different energies (i.e. different colours) induces opposite effects on the material refractive index, here artistically depicted by a surface deformation.

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2018 selected publications: ‘Ultra-fast transient plasmonics using transparent conductive oxides’ J. Opt. 20, 024007 (2018). ‘Optical Time Reversal from Time-Dependent Epsilon-Near-Zero Media’ Phys. Rev. Lett. 120, 043902 (2018) ‘Dynamic Control of Nanocavities with Tunable Metal Oxides’ Nano Lett. 18, 740−746 (2018). ‘Degenerate nonlinear enhancement in epsilon-near-zero transparent conducting oxides’ Opt. Mater. Express 8, 11, 3392-3400 (2018).

IPaQS Annual Report 20186

FACULTYAND STAFF

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STAFF

Professor Patrik ÖhbergHead of Institute of Photonics

and Quantum SciencesP.Ohberg@hw.ac.uk

0131 451 8184

Research interests:• Gauge field theories

• Bose-Einstein Condensate dynamics

Dr Cristian BonatoC.Bonato@hw.ac.uk

0131 451 3470

Research interests:• Spin-based

quantum technology• Nanoscience

Dr Maria Anna CatalunaM.Cataluna@hw.ac.uk

0131 451 8398

Research interests:• Ultrafast photonics

• Pulsed semiconductor lasers • High-speed sensing

Professor Daniel M J Esser

M.J.D.Esser@hw.ac.uk0131 451 3085

Research interests:• Mid-infrared laser sources

Professor Erika A AnderssonE.Andersson@hw.ac.uk

0131 451 3653

Research interests:• Quantum information

science, including quantum signatures

• Quantum optics• Quantum measurements

Professor Gerald S Buller

G.S. Buller@hw.ac.uk0131 451 3069

Research interests:• Sparse photon

depth imaging• Quantum communications• Single-photon detection

technologies

Dr Xianzhong ChenX.Chen@hw.ac.uk

0131 451 3802

Research interests:• Holographic optics• Metasurface optics

Dr Alessandro FedrizziA.Fedrizzi@hw.ac.uk

0131 451 3649

Research interests:• Foundations of quantum physics

• Quantum optics

Dr Fabio BiancalanaF.Biancalana@hw.ac.uk

0131 451 3773

Research interests:• Nonlinear fibre optics• Condensed matter

analogues in optics

Dr Richard CarterR.M.Carter@hw.ac.uk

0131 451 4143

Research interests:• High power laser

manufacturing processes• Fibre optics

Dr Ross DonaldsonRoss.Donaldson@hw.ac.uk

0131 451 8120

Research interests:• Quantum communications

• Aerial platforms• Novel optical and photonic technology

Dr Marcello FerreraM.Ferrera@hw.ac.uk

0131 451 3650

Research interests:• Plasmonics

• Metamaterial physics

IPaQS Annual Report 20188

Professor Ian GalbraithI.Galbraith@hw.ac.uk

0131 451 3066

Research interests:• Semiconductors• Exciton physics

Professor D P HandD.P.Hand@hw.ac.uk

0131 451 3020

Research interests:• Applications of high power

lasers in manufacturing and medicine

• Fibre optics for high peak power laser light

• Optical sensing

Professor Ajoy KarA.K.Kar@hw.ac.uk

0131 451 3049

Research interests:• Graphene Photonics

• Chalcogende Photonics• Biophotonics and Healthcare• Ultrafast Waveguide Lasers

Dr Robert R J MaierR.R.J.Maier@hw.ac.uk

0131 451 3084

Research interests:• Additive layer manufacturing

Dr Erik GaugerE.Gauger@hw.ac.uk

0131 451 3345

Research interests:• Information theory• Quantum physics

• Super and sub-radiance dynamics

Dr Michael HartmannM.J.Hartmann@hw.ac.uk

0131 451 8220

Research interests:• Many body quantum systems

• Quantum opto-mechanics

Dr Jonathan LeachJ.Leach@hw.ac.uk

0131 451 4174

Research interests:• Quantum optics

• Entangled orbital angular momentum states

• Novel imaging technologies

Dr Mehul MalikM.Malik@hw.ac.uk

0131 451 8117

Research interests:• Quantum photonics

• Quantum information• Quantum technologies

Professor Brian GerardotDeputy Director, IPaQSB.D.Gerardot@hw.ac.uk

0131 451 8069

Research interests:• Solid-state quantum

photonics• Nanoscience

• Quantum optics

Professor Mats JonsonM.Jonson@hw.ac.uk

013 451 4333

Research interests:• Nano-electro-mechanics

Dr William MacPhersonW.N.Macpherson@hw.ac.uk

0131 451 3733

Research interests:• Optical sensors

Dr Richard McCrackenR.McCracken@hw.ac.uk

0131 451 3645

Research interests:• High-speed

quantum random number generation

• Tunable pulsed lasers for multi-photon microscopy

• Mid-infrared single-photon generation

• Frequency combs for astronomical

spectrograph calibration

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Professor A J MooreA.Moore@hw.ac.uk

0131 451 8068

Research interests:• Additive manufacture of

metals• THz metrology

Dr Mohammed SalehM.Saleh@hw.ac.uk

0131 451 4333

Research interests:• Fibre based nonlinear optics

Dr. Robert R ThomsonR.R.Thomson@hw.ac.uk

0131 451 3291

Research interests:• Astrophotonics

• Bio-sensors

Dr Wei WangW.Wang@hw.ac.uk

0131 451 3141

Research interests:• Optical Information

Processing• Statistical Optics

• Optical Metrology• Biomedical Optics

Professor Carl R PidgeonC.R.Pidgeon@hw.ac.uk

0131 451 4333

Research interests:• Quantum optics of

impurities in Si

Dr Jonathan ShephardJ.D.Shephard@hw.ac.uk

0131 451 4343

Research interests:• Lasers for medical applications • Laser manufacturing processes

Dr Dave TownsendD.Townsend@hw.ac.uk

0131 451 3794

Research interests:• Femtochemistry

• Time-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy

Dr Xu WangX.Wang@hw.ac.uk

0131 451 3775

Research interests:• Optical communication

• All optical signal processing• Real-time ultra-fast imaging

Professor Derryck T ReidD.T.Reid@hw.ac.uk

0131 451 3652

Research interests:• Optical frequency combs

• Femtosecond OPOs• Sub-surface semiconductor

microscopy

Professor Mohammad Taghizadeh

M.Taghizadeh@hw.ac.uk0131 451 3067

Research interests:• Holography

Dr John TraversJ.Travers@hw.ac.uk

0131 451 4039

Research interests:• Nonlinear fibre optics

• VUV and EUV pulse generation• High intensity light-matter

interaction

Professor John I B WilsonJ.I.B. Wilson@hw.ac.uk

0131 451 3034

Research interests:• Photovoltaic power,

thin-film materials

IPaQS Annual Report 201810

Post-Doctoral Research Associates

Name Email Project Title

Dr Hyeonjun Baek H.Baek@hw.ac.uk Scalable two-dimensional quantum integrated photonics

Dr Rainer Beck R.J.Beck@hw.ac.ukA fluorescence guided steerable laser tool for precision

resection of early stage cancers

Dr Federico Belli F.Belli@hw.ac.uk High-intensity solitons in gas-filled hollow fibers (HISOL)

Dr Aurelian Benoit A.Benoit@hw.ac.ukPrecision astronomical spectrographs using single-mode

photonic technologies

Dr Antoine Berrou A.P.Berrou@hw.ac.ukHigh-energy pulsed 2µm oscillator-amplifier

demonstrators

Dr Prveen Bidare P.Bidare@hw.ac.ukIn-situ characterisation of powder bed fusion for

process setting

Dr Rolf Birch R.Birch@hw.ac.uk High energy amplifiers for ultrafast lasers

Dr Ioannis Bitharas I.Bitharas@hw.ac.uk PBF process fundamentals for healthcare applications

Dr Christian Brahms C.Brahms@hw.ac.uk High-energy soliton dynamics in hollow capillary fibres

Dr Artur Branny A.Branny@hw.ac.uk Two-dimensional quantum photonics

Dr Mauro Brotons i Gisbert M.Brotons_i_Gisbert@hw.ac.uk Quantum dots in two-dimensional heterostructures

Dr Alberto Campos-Zatarain A.CamposZatarain@hw.ac.uk High-brightness laser diode module

Dr Pablo Castro-Marin P.Castro@hw.ac.uk Frequency combs for manufacturing

Dr Jianyong Chen Jianyong.Chen@hw.ac.uk ARMOR - add remove measure or repair

Dr Debaditya Choudhury D.Choudhury@hw.ac.uk Multiplexed 'touch and tell' optical sensing and imaging

Dr Robert John Collins R.J.Collins@hw.ac.ukUK quantum technology hub for quantum

communications technologies

Dr Hatef Dinparasti Saleh H.Dinparasti_Saleh@hw.ac.ukHigh-speed quantum random number generation for

secure data communications

Dr Adrian Dzipalski A.Dzipalski@hw.ac.ukLakHsmi- Sensors for large scale hydrodynamic imaging

of the ocean floor

Dr Adam Forrest Adam.Forrest@hw.ac.uk UPTIME - Real-TIME probing of ultrafast phenomena

Dr Wojciech Gora W.S.Gora@hw.ac.ukSHARK - Laser surface engineering for new and enhanced functional performance with digitally

enabled knowledge base

Dr Joseph Ho Joseph.Ho@hw.ac.uk Quantum networks using photonic cluster states

Dr Oguzhan Kara O.Kara@hw.ac.uk Midinfrared standoff spectroscopy for fugitive emissions

Dr Nikoleta Kotsina N.Kotsina@hw.ac.ukNovel non-linear optical-fibre sources for time-resolved

molecular dynamics: towards the next generation of ultrafast spectroscopy

Dr Santosh Kumar Santosh.Kumar@hw.ac.uk Two-dimensional quantum photonics

Dr Dmytro Kundys D.Kundys@hw.ac.ukQuigaByte-Gigahertz-clocked telecom cluster states for

next generation quantum photonics

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Name Email Project Title

Dr Harikumar Kuzhikkattu Chandrasekharan

H.Kuzhikkattu_Chandrasekharan@hw.ac.uk

Laser manufacturing of distal-end-optical-systems for endoscopic optical-biopsy diagnostics

Dr Aurora Maccarone A.Maccarone@hw.ac.uk Underwater single-photon imaging

Dr Mark Mackenzie M.Mackenzie@hw.ac.ukManufacturing and application of next generation

chalcogenides

Dr David MacLachlan D.G.Maclachlan@hw.ac.ukLow noise, high-throughput, time-resolved single-photon

sensor for quantum applications

Dr Aongus McCarthy A.McCarthy@hw.ac.uk Quantum enhanced imaging (led by Glasgow)

Dr Paulina Morawska P.Morawska@hw.ac.ukUltraWELD - ULTRAfast laser WELDing of highly dissimilar

materials – development of a truly industrial process

Dr Rikki Moug R.Moug@hw.ac.ukApplications of expitaxial lift off technology for

II-VI semiconductors

Dr Sebabrata Mukherjee S.Mukherjee@hw.ac.uk Photonic near IR radial velocity spectrographs

Dr Catarina Novo C.Novo@hw.ac.uk Safe target project and eFinger project

Dr Dimitrios Polyzos D.Polyzos@hw.ac.ukLow T, low P bonding of ultrasound transducer arrays

singulated using femtosecond machining

Dr Raphael Proux R.Proux@hw.ac.uk Quantum communications hub

Dr Ittoop Puthoor I.Puthoor@hw.ac.ukUK quantum technology hub for quantum

communications technologies

Dr Markus Rambach M.Rambach@hw.ac.ukQuantum frequency conversion of a quantum dot

emitter to telecom wavelengths: high quality single photons for hybrid systems

Dr Ximing Ren Ximing.Ren@hw.ac.ukCreating, detecting and exploiting quantum states

of light - renewal

Dr Martin Ringbauer M.Ringbauer@hw.ac.uk Multi-photon quantum information processing

Dr Marius Rutkauskas M.Rutkauskas@hw.ac.ukPISTACHIO - photonic imaging strategies for technical art

history and conservation

Dr Bartłomiej Siwicki B.Siwicki@hw.ac.ukHollow antiresonant fibres for visible and ultraviolet

beam delivery

Dr Mike Tanner M.Tanner@hw.ac.uk Through-body TCSPC for locating medical devices

Dr Manuel Valiente Cifuentes M.Valiente_Cifuentes@hw.ac.uk Topological and unconventional quantum fluids

Dr Peter Vines P.Vines@hw.ac.uk Integrated photonic quantum technologies

Dr Andrew Waddie A.Waddie@hw.ac.uk Photoelasticity for opaque objects

Dr Krystian Wlodarczyk K.L.Wlodarczyk@hw.ac.ukMILEPOST – microscale processes governing

global sustainability

Dr Feng Ye F.Ye@hw.ac.uk Laser frequency comb for quantum timekeeping

Dr Feng Zhu Feng.Zhu@hw.ac.uk Quantum imaging technologies using SPAD array sensors

Dr Jingxuan Zhu J.X.Zhu@hw.ac.ukMBE growth of Mn-Cr chalcogenide alloys

and heterostructures

IPaQS Annual Report 201812

RESEARCH PROJECTS AND TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT

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2018 marks the completion of a hugely successful 5 years for CIM-Laser, delivering a significant volume of industry-focused manufacturing research, much of which is either being transferred to industry or being further developed in follow-on EPSRC, EU and Innovate UK funded projects. CIM-Laser has contributed to the development of many highly skilled people, with more than 60 researchers directly involved in CIM-Laser: 19 academic staff, 26 RAs, 12 PhD and 5 EngD students. In addition, we have funded 4 Innovation projects at Universities outside of CIM-Laser.

CIM-Laser has supported a total of 40 separate projects, co-funded with our industrial partners. Our strategy throughout has been to combine laser material interaction fundamentals with advanced materials science to underpin the development and optimisation of laser-based manufacturing processes. We developed,

initiated and delivered projects across a wide range of laser interaction timescales (from picosecond pulsed to continuous lasers) to characterise basic laser-material interactions at a fundamental level, whilst solving specific manufacturing challenges. For example, we undertook fundamental research to understand the underlying physics and hence significantly improve the yield of a novel picosecond laser welding process for direct bonding of highly dissimilar materials (such as glass and metal).

Key research highlights across CIM-Laser include: the development of a laser wire additive manufacture system capable of producing features as small as 1 mm across, suitable for applications such as the repair of turbine blades; the demonstration of laser melting systems in novel configurations including high laser power, ns pulsed systems and low atmospheric pressure

CIMEPSRC Centre for Innovative Manufacturing in Laser-based Production Processes

Glass micro-machining

IPaQS Annual Report 201814

systems; the development of high-energy lasers at 2 µm wavelength to enable materials processing feasibility studies; the manufacture of holographic anti-counterfeiting structures directly onto metal surfaces (as highlighted by BBC Scotland); the development of a miniaturised GHz frame rate holographic imaging system and testing of this with ultra-short pulsed laser processes including the welding of glass to metal; the development of a phenomenological model for laser powder bed processes, essential to understand and compensate machine-to-machine variability with powder bed additive manufacturing; and the demonstration of improved strength dissimilar welding (steel to aluminium) by pre-processing with a pulsed laser.

Our Outreach Activity particularly focused on building links to the UK industrial laser, manufacturing, and academic communities beyond the cohort of our collaborators. In year one we worked with these communities to produce a UK Roadmap. Building on this, we (jointly with AILU, Association of Industrial Laser Users) formed a National Strategy Working group to develop Lasers for Productivity: a UK Strategy. This was launched at the Houses of Parliament in March 2018.

We have also organised and co-organised a range of workshops and other events, in order to support the community of laser users in the UK. These included the CIM-Laser conferences in 2017 and 2018, and hosting of a major international conference at Heriot-Watt in June 2018, Laser Precision Microfabrication.

We gratefully acknowledge the support of all those who have engaged with the Centre, both the dedicated academic team and our highly supportive (and challenging!) industrial partners.

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IPaQS Annual Report 201816

Quantum Hubs: EPSRC Quantum Technology Hubs

Gerald Buller (novel single-photon detectors; single-photon imaging; quantum-enhanced imaging; sparse photon imaging in extreme environments; quantum communication protocols; quantum amplifiers; Management Board QuantIC Hub; Member Management Board QuComms Hub, EPSRC Established Career Fellowship in QT; industry links with Leonardo, DSTL, Helia Photonics, and numerous other SME’s) Brian Gerardot (solid-state spin-photon interfaces; indistinguishable single-photon and entangled photon solid-state devices; quantum dots; 2D materials; integrated quantum photonics; Co-I QuComms Hub, ERC Consolidator Grant; RS Wolfson Merit Award; RA Eng. Chair in Emerging Technology) Erika Andersson (quantum communications; quantum digital signatures; quantum information theory; Co-I QuComms Hub) Jonathan Leach (single-photon imaging through obscurants; photonic QIP with OAM; quantum imaging; multi-photon entanglement; joint projects with DSTL; Co-I QuantIC Hub)

Alessandro Fedrizzi (entangled photon sources, cluster state quantum computing; quantum software; satellite QKD; multi-dimensional QKD; partnership projects with NQIT and QuComms Hubs; EPSRC Early Career Fellowship in QT) Mehul Malik (high-dimensional QKD; multi-photon entanglement; quantum information transport through optical fibres; quantum secure imaging; EPSRC QT Fellowship) Cristian Bonato (nitrogen-vacancy centres in diamond; solid-state spin-photon interfaces; silicon carbide quantum devices; adaptive phase estimation and single spin magnetometry; EPSRC Early Career Fellowship) Erik Gauger (bio-inspired QT including energy harvesting; theory of quantum nanostructures; quantum biology including avian compass; molecular sensors and devices; (solid-state) quantum information; processing & metrology; RSE Research Fellowship in bio-inspired QT)

Ross Donaldson (Quantum communications with aerial platforms, including satellites; quantum amplifiers; novel photonic technology for quantum communications; RAEng Fellowship)

IPaQS is an established centre of excellence in Quantum Technology (QT), playing a major role in the UK’s National Quantum Technology Programme via the EPSRC QuantIC and QuComms Quantum Technology Hubs, the EPSRC Fellowship Programme, and several major Innovate UK projects with UK industry. In addition, IPaQS is heavily

involved in other UK, EU, and International quantum technology initiatives. IPaQS has a strong mixture of established quantum technology leaders and ambitiously recruited early career leaders from the best international institutions. The following is a list of IPaQS academics at the forefront of quantum science and technology.

Michael Hartmann (quantum simulations; matrix product states; theory of superconducting quantum devices; opto- and nanomechanics; machine learning)

Patrik Öhberg (theory of ultracold atoms; quantum simulators; quantum optomechanics) Robert Thomson (clinical applications of time-correlated single-photon imaging; integrated optical analogues of quantum phenomena; laser fabricated integrated quantum photonics; partner of the QuComms Hub) Xu Wang (optical communication, ultrafast imaging, secure high speed optical communications with QKD, partner of the QuComms Hub) Maria Ana Cataluna (ultrafast semiconductor quantum-confined lasers and photonic devices; ultrafast spectroscopy of novel low-dimensional semiconductor materials; ultra-high-speed optical sensing enabled by ultrafast photonics; ERC Grant holder) Mohammed Saleh (nonlinear optics; integrated quantum photonics; RSE Research Fellowship in nonlinear photonics)

Fabio Biancalana (quantum soliton propagation and evaporation; graphene; 2D materials; nonlinear quantum optical processes) Xianzhong Chen (metamaterials and metasurfaces; polarization control; OAM manipulation; nanophotonics, joint projects with Holoxica) Marcello Ferrera (nanophotonics; nonlinear materials; integrated optics; plasmonics; ultra-fast all-optical devices with applications including on-chip THz science, signal processing, optical computing, integrated quantum optics) John Travers (light-matter interactions in gases; ERC Grant) Ian Galbraith (semiconductor quantum systems; excitons; quantum dots; 2D materials)

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IPaQS Annual Report 201818

IPaQS is a major participant in the UK Quantum Technology Programme, a nationwide £300M+ initiative in what promises to be the next revolution in technology, enabling breakthrough applications in a variety of areas such as computing, sensing, secure communications and imaging.

IPaQS is a major partner in two of the four UK Quantum Technology hubs for a total value of £5M. We also host three prestigious Quantum Technology Fellowships: an Established Career Fellowship for Professor Gerald Buller; and Early Career Fellowships for Dr Alessandro Fedrizzi and Dr Mehul Malik. Additional investment from the University has allowed the creation of a new laboratory work space shared between the Quantum Technology research groups involved in both Hubs, providing a unique opportunity for fostering excellence and productivity.

The UK Quantum Technology Hub for Quantum Communications

The UK Quantum Technology Hub for Quantum Communications is a partnership of eight UK Universities (Bristol, Cambridge, Heriot-Watt, Leeds, Royal Holloway, Sheffield, Strathclyde, and York), numerous private sector companies (BT, Toshiba Research Europe Laboratories Ltd, amongst others), and public sector bodies (National Physical Laboratory, Bristol City Council and the EPSRC National Dark Fibre Infrastructure Service), that have come together in a unique collaboration to exploit fundamental laws of quantum physics for the development of secure communications technologies and services.

Led by the University of York, the five-year, 24M QComms Hub aims to deliver quantum encryption systems that will in turn enable secure transactions and transmissions of data across a range of users in real-world applications: from government agencies and industrial set-ups to commercial establishments and the wider public. Heriot-Watt is specifically involved in providing quantum digital signature schemes, quantum amplifiers, and single photon source technologies.

UK Quantum Technology Programme

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The UK Quantum Technology Hub for Quantum Imaging

The UK Quantum Technology Hub for Quantum Imaging is a partnership of seven UK Universities (Glasgow, Heriot-Watt, Strathclyde, Edinburgh, Oxford, Bristol, Warwick) and a number of companies (e.g. Thales, Selex, Renishaw, MSquared lasers, E2V, Andor, Oxford Instruments). QuantIC aims to link world-leading quantum technologists with global industry leaders to transform imaging in alignment with industry priorities. Together we will pioneer imaging and sensing systems with breakthrough functionality by developing a family of quantum-enhanced multidimensional cameras operating across a range of wavelengths, timescales and length-scales.

Led by Glasgow University, the £27m QuantIC hub will deliver quantum-inspired imaging solutions such as single pixel cameras, ultra-high speed imaging, gravitational field imaging and covert range finders, together with an array of novel light sources and detector technologies. Heriot-Watt is specifically involved in the following areas: ultra-high speed cameras with applications such as detecting images obscured by fog, smoke or other obscurants; next generation underwater imaging systems; reconstructing colour and depth images at the single-photon level; and development of the next generation of near-infrared single photon detectors based on germanium-on-silicon.

IPaQS Annual Report 201820

We are grateful for the support of these industrial partners

NEW GRANT AWARDS

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JK LasersTM

TWI

21

New Grant Awards in 2018

Name Project Title Sponsor Dates Value

Anagnostou Metasurfaces A-La-Carte using Phase Change VO2 DSTL 19/11/2018-18/08/2019 £100,000

Bonato Quantum sensing of electric fields in SiC devices EPSRC 01/11/2018-31/10/2019 £44,719

Bonato Coherent Control of Single Spins in Silicon Carbide Nanopillars The Royal Society 15/03/2018-14/03/2019 £15,000

Bonato Single spin-active colour centres in SiC photonic structures Carnegie Trust 01/09/2018-01/09/2019 £9,858

Buller Agile Safe Communications Innovate UK 01/11/2018-31/03/2021 £199,004

Corne Towards Quantum Circuits for Accelerated Logistics Phase 2&3 EPSRC 01/09/2018-30/11/2019 £127,719

Desmulliez Low T, low P bonding of ultrasound transducer arrays singulated using femtosecond machining EPSRC 01/03/2018-

31/05/2019 £87,211

Donaldson 3QN: Towards A New UK Industry for Novel Quantum Receivers in Nascent Satellite QKD Global Markets Innovate UK 01/11/2018-

31/03/2021 £195,454

Donaldson RAEng Fellowship: A mobile optical ground station receiver for satellite-based quantum communication

Royal Academy of Engineering

30/11/2018-29/11/2023 £486,690

Esser CDTAP (May-Wilson)-Rofin-Short pulse lasers for machining composite materials

Rofin-Sinar Uk Ltd

01/09/2018-31/08/2023 £50,000

Esser Leonardo Support for CIM-Laser High-energy pulsed 2µm oscillator-amplifier demonstrators Leonardo UK 01/01/2018-

31/05/2019 £40,000

Esser Studentship - Design of ultra-compact 2 micron solid state lasers Leonardo UK 01/01/2018-31/12/2020 £30,000

Esser RAEng: Regional Engagement Awards (Esser) Royal Academy of Engineering

01/03/2018-28/02/2021 £75,000

Fedrizzi PHASE TWO - Wide-angle receivers for long-distance free-space QKD EPSRC 01/05/2018-

31/10/2019 £167,840

Gerardot 2DQP: European Commission

01/01/2018-31/12/2022 £1,262,877

Gerardot S2QUIP European Commission

01/10/2018-30/09/2021 £328,100

Gerardot Chair in Emerging Technologies Royal Academy of Engineering

01/03/2018-29/02/2028 £1,300,000

Gerardot Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition EPSRC 01/02/2018-31/12/2019 £20,000

IPaQS Annual Report 201822

Name Project Title Sponsor Dates Value

Halimi RAEng Fellowship: Advanced Computational Methods For Smart and Extreme Imaging

Royal Academy of Engineering

01/10/2018-30/09/2023 £492,822

Hand Renishaw I-CASE PhD studentship support Sam McArthur (R Thomson supervisor) 2018 start Renishaw PLC 01/10/2018-

30/09/2022 £26,500

Hand ULTRAfast laser WELDding of highly dissimilar materials – development of a truly industrial process Innovate UK 01/01/2018-

30/06/2020 £274,948

Kar Goal of 10GHz Mode Locked Mid-IR Microchip Waveguide Lasers EOARD European Office

of Aerospace Research and Development

15/06/2018-14/06/2021

£42,553

Leach Nano-scale imaging with Hong-Ou-Mandel Interferometry EPSRC 01/03/2018-28/02/2021

£271,514

Malik QuompleX: Quantum Information Processing with Complex Media

FWF Austrian Science Fund

01/10/2018-31/01/2021

£92,138

Malik EPSRC: Putting Chaos to Work: Multi-Photon Entanglement in Complex Scattering Media

EPSRC 15/05/2018-14/05/2023

£1,191,690

McCracken Innovate UK - Compact quantum random number generation Innovate UK 01/03/2018-28/02/2019

£71,589

Moore PBF process fundamentals for healthcare applications EPSRC 01/10/2018-30/09/2019

£51,659

Reid PISTACHIO: Photonic Imaging Strategies for Technical Art History and Conservation

EPSRC 01/08/2018-01/02/2022

£824,120

Thomson STFC DTP (Letter offer received July 2017) STFC 01/09/2018 31/08/2022-

£74,539

Thomson Through-body TCSPC for locating medical devices STFC 01/10/2018-31/03/2021

£315,108

Thomson PhoG European Commission

01/11/2018-31/10/2021

£764,447

Thomson Laser refrigeration on the nanoscale: From nanocryostats to quantum optomechanics

EPSRC 01/10/2018-30/09/2022

£335,592

Townsend Novel Non-linear Optical-Fibre Sources for Time-resolved Molecular Dynamics: Towards the Next Generation of

Ultrafast Spectroscopy

EPSRC 14/04/2018-15/10/2021

£588,865

Travers CDTAP (Quinn)-STFC-Development of a diode-pumped solid-state laser system operating at 10 J, 100 Hz

STFC 01/09/2018-31/08/2022

£50,000

Much of the research in IPAQS is collaborative with industry, leading to opportunities for impact beyond the academic community.

23

IPaQS Annual Report 201824

PUBLICATIONS, PATENTS AND AWARDS

A. Huang, S. Barz, E. Andersson and V. Makarov, Implementation vulnerabilities in general quantum cryptography, New Journal of Physics 20, 103016 (2018)

R. Amiri, A. Abidin, P. Wallden and E. Andersson, Efficient unconditionally secure signatures using universal hashing, In: Preneel B., Vercauteren F. (eds) Applied Cryptography and Network Security. ACNS 2018. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol 10892. Springer, Cham

R. Hayward and F. Biancalana, Complex Berry phase dynamics in PT-symmetric coupled waveguides, 20 Nov 2018, In: Physical Review A. 98, 5, 053833

R. Hayward and F. Biancalana, Constructing new nonlinear evolution equations with supersymmetry, 4 Jun 2018, In: Journal of Physics A: Mathematical and Theoretical. 51, 27, 275202

L. Di Mauro Villari, I. Galbraith and F. Biancalana, Coulomb effects in the absorbance spectra of two-dimensional Dirac materials, 15 Nov 2018, In: Physical Review B. 98, 20, 205402

D. N. Carvalho, F. Biancalana and A. Marini, Nonlinear optical effects of opening a gap in graphene 14 May 2018, In: Physical Review B. 97, 19, 195123 L. Di Mauro Villari, D. Faccio, F. Biancalana and C. Conti, Quantum soliton evaporation, 31 Oct 2018, In: Physical Review A. 98, 4, 043859

D. Vocke, C. Maitland, A. Prain, K. E. Wilson, F. Biancalana, E. M. Wright, F. Marino and D. Faccio, Rotating black hole geometries in a two-dimensional photon superfluid, 10 Sep 2018, In: Optica. 5, 9, p. 1099-1103 5 p.

D. Faccio and F. Biancalana, Shining light on an old problem, 26 Apr 2018, In: Nature Photonics. 12, 5, p. 257-259 3 p.

A. Dréau, A. Tcheborateva, A. E. Mahdaoui, C. Bonato and R. Hanson, Quantum Frequency Conversion of Single Photons from a Nitrogen-Vacancy Center in Diamond to Telecommunication Wavelengths, Physical Review Applied 9, 064031 (2018)

R. Nagy, M. Widmann, M. Niethammer, D. B. R. Dasari, I. Gerhardt, Ö. O. Soykal, M. Radulaski, T. Ohshima, J. Vučković, N. T. Son, I. G. Ivanov, S. E. Economou, C. Bonato, S.-Y. Lee and J. Wrachtrup, Quantum Properties of Dichroic Silicon Vacancies in Silicon Carbide, Physical Review Applied 9, 034022 (2018)

X. Ren, Y. Altmann, R. Tobin, A. McCarthy, S. McLaughlin and G. S. Buller, Wavelength-time coding for multispectral 3D imaging using single-photon LiDAR, Optics Express, 26,(23), pp30146-30161 (2018) Y. Altmann, A. Maccarone, A. McCarthy, S. McLaughlin and G. S. Buller, Spectral Classification of Sparse Photon Depth Images, Optics Express, 26(5), p5514 (2018)

X Ren, P. W. R. Connolly, A. Halimi, Y. Altmann, S. McLaughlin, I. Gyongy, R. K. Henderson and G. S. Buller, High-resolution depth profiling using a range-gated Si CMOS SPAD quanta image sensor, Optics Express, 26(5), p5541 (2018)

X. Zang, F. Dong, F. Yue, C. Zhang, L. Xu, Z. Song, M. Chen, P. Chen, G. S. Buller, Y. Zhu, S. Zhuang, W. Chu, S. Zhang and X. Chen, Polarization Encoded Color Image Embedded in a Dielectric Metasurface, Adv. Materials, 30, 1707499 (May 2018)

K. L. Wlodarczyk, R. M. Carter, A. Jahanbakhsh, A. A. Lopes, M. D. Mackenzie, R. R. J. Maier, D. P. Hand and M. M. Maroto-Valer, Rapid Laser Manufacturing of Microfluidic Devices from Glass Substrates, 17 Aug 2018, In: Micromachines. 9, 8, 409

Z. Li, W. Liu, Z. Li, C. Tang, H. Cheng, J. Li, X. Chen, S. Chen and J. Tian, Tripling the Capacity of Optical Vortices by Nonlinear Metasurface, Laser Photonics Review, 1800164 (2018)

C. Zhang, D. Wen, F. Yue, Y. Intaravanne, W. Wang and X. Chen, Optical Metasurface Generated Vector Beam for Anticounterfeiting, Physical Review Applied, 10, 034028 (2018)

D. Wen, F. Yue, W. Liu, S. Chen and X. Chen, Geometric metasurface and its application in ultrathin optical devices, Advanced Optical Materials, 2018, DOI:10.1002/adom.201800348

25

Journal Articles

IPaQS Annual Report 201826

Z. Guo, X. Chen and T. Zentgraf, Editorial for the Theories and Applications of Metasurfaces, J. Phys. D: Appl. Phys. 51, 150201 (2018)

Z. Zhang, D. Wen, C. Zhang, M. Chen, W. Wang, S. Chen and X. Chen, Multifunctional light sword metasurface lens, ACS Photonics, 2018. DOI: 10.1021/acsphotonics.7b01536

Y. Liu, J. Xu, S. Xiao, X. Chen and J. Li, Metasurface Approach to External Cloak and Designer Cavities, ACS Photonics, 5, 1749 (2018)

R. J. Donaldson, L. Mazzarella, R. J. Collins, J. Jeffers and G. S. Buller, A high gain and high fidelity coherent state comparison amplifier, Communications Physics 1, Article number 54 (2018) A. Berrou, O. J. P. Collett, D. Morris and M. J. D. Esser, Comparative study of high power Tm:YLF and Tm:LLF slab lasers in continuous wave regime, 16 Apr 2018, In: Optics Express. 26, 8, p. 10559-10572 14 p.

F. Graffitti, P. Barrow, M. Proietti, D. Kundys and A. Fedrizzi, Independent high-purity photons created in domain-engineered crystals, Optica 5, 514-517, 2018

M. Ringbauer, T. R. Bromley, M. Cianciaruso, L. Lami, S. Lau, G. Adesso, A. G. White, A. Fedrizzi and M. Piani, Certification and quantification of multilevel quantum coherence, Physical Review X 8, 041007, 2018

F. Costa, M. Ringbauer, M. E. Goggin, A. G. White and A. Fedrizzi, A unifying framework for spatial and temporal quantum correlations, Physical Review A 98, 012328, 2018

M. Ringbauer, F. Costa, M. E. Goggin, A. G. White and A. Fedrizzi, Multi-time correlations with no spatial analogue, Nature Partner Journal, Quantum Information 4, 37, 2018 F. Graffitti, J. Kelly-Massicotte, A. Fedrizzi and A. Branczyk, Design considerations for high-purity heralded single-photon sources, Physical Review A 98, 053811, 2018

E. G. Carnemolla, L. Caspani, C. DeVault, M. Clerici, S. Vezzoli, V. Bruno, V. M. Shalaev, D. Faccio, A. Boltasseva and M. Ferrera, Degenerate optical nonlinear enhancement in epsilon-near-zero transparent conducting oxides, 5 Oct 2018, In: Optical Materials Express

J. Kim, E. G. Carnemolla, C. DeVault, A. M. Shaltout, D. Faccio, V. M. Shalaev, A. V. Kildishev, M. Ferrera and A. Boltasseva, Dynamic Control of Nanocavities with Tunable Metal Oxides, 14 Feb 2018, In: Nano Letters. 18, 2, p. 740-746 7 p.

S. Vezzoli, V. Bruno, C. DeVault, T. Roger, V. M. Shalaev, A. Boltasseva, M. Ferrera, M. Clerici, A. Dubietis and D. Faccio, Optical Time Reversal from Time-Dependent Epsilon-Near-Zero Media, 26 Jan 2018, In: Physical Review Letters. 120, 4, 043902

S. Joshi and, Exceptional points and dynamics of an asymmetric non-Hermitian two-level system, 17 Oct 2018, In: Physical Review A 98, 4, 6 p., 042117

G. C. Knee, E. Bolduc, J. Leach and E. M. Gauger, Quantum process tomography via completely positive and trace-preserving projection, Physical Review A 98 062336 (2018)

J. K. Sowa, J. A. Mol, G. A. D. Briggs and E. M. Gauger, Beyond Marcus theory and the Landauer-Büttiker approach in molecular junctions: A unified framework, The Journal of Chemical Physics 149, 154112 (2018)

D. Scerri, R. N. E. Malein, B. D. Gerardot and E. M. Gauger, Frequency-encoded linear cluster states with coherent Raman photons, Physical Review A 98 022318 (2018). Selected for inclusion in PRA Kaleidoscopes

A. Lyons, G. C. Knee, E. Bolduc, T. Roger, J. Leach, E. M. Gauger and D. Faccio, Attosecond-Resolution Hong-Ou-Mandel Interferometry, Science Advances 4 eaap9416 (2018)

J. K. Sowa, J. A. Mol, G. A. D. Briggs and E. M. Gauger, Spiro-Conjugated Molecular Junctions: between Jahn-Teller Distortion and Destructive Quantum Interference, The Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters 9 1859 (2018)

L. C. Flatten, L. Weng, A. Branny, S. Johnson, P. R. Dolan, A. a. P. Trichet, B. D. Gerardot and J. M. Smith, Microcavity enhanced single photon emission from two-dimensional WSe2, Appl. Phys. Lett. 112, 191105 (2018) H. D. Saleh, S. Vezzoli, L. Caspani, A. Branny, S. Kumar, B. D. Gerardot and D. Faccio, Towards spontaneous parametric down conversion from monolayer MoS 2, Scientific Reports 8, 3862 (2018)

Journal Articles

27

F. Yue, C. Zhang, X. Zang, D. Wen, B. D. Gerardot, S. Zhang and X. Chen, High-resolution grayscale image hidden in a laser beam, Light: Science and Applications 7, e17129 (2018)

R. Carter, P. Morawska and D. P. Hand, Breakthrough in Welding Highly Dissimilar Materials, 10 Aug 2018, The Laser User, Summer 2018, 89, p. 24-25 2 p. Y. Tian, W. S. Góra, A. Pan Cabo, L. L. Parimi, D. P. Hand, S. Tammas-Williams and P. B. Prangnell, Material interactions in laser polishing powder bed additive manufactured Ti6Al4V components, Mar 2018, In: Additive Manufacturing. 20, p. 11-22 12 p.

R. Geremia, D. Karnakis and D. P. Hand, Sep 2018, The role of laser pulse overlap in ultrafast thin film structuring applications, In: Applied Physics A: Materials Science and Processing. 124, 9, 641

O. T. Brown and M. J. Hartmann, Localization to delocalization transition in a driven nonlinear cavity array, New J. Phys. 20, 055004 (2018)

E. T. Owen, J. Jin, D. Rossini, R. Fazio and M. J. Hartmann, Quantum correlations and limit cycles in the driven-dissipative Heisenberg lattice, New J. Phys. 20, 045004 (2018)

A. Rodenas, M. Gu, G. Corrielli, P. Paiè, S. John, A. K. Kar and R. Osellame, Three-dimensional femtosecond laser nanolithography of crystals, 31 Dec 2018, In: Nature Photonics J. M. Morris, M. D. Mackenzie, C. R. Petersen, G. Demetriou, A. K. Kar, O. Bang and H. T. Bookey, Ge22As20Se58 glass ultrafast laser inscribed waveguides for mid-IR integrated optics, 1 Apr 2018, In: Optical Materials Express. 8, 4, p. 1001-1011 11 p.

P. Caramazza, K. Wilson, G. Gariépy, J. Leach, S. McLaughlin, D. Faccio and Y. Altmann, Enhancing the recovery of a temporal sequence of images using joint deconvolution, 27 Mar 2018, In: Scientific Reports. 8, 5257

A. Lyons, T. Roger, N. Westerberg, S. Vezzoli, C. Maitland, J. Leach, M. J. Padgett and D. Faccio, How fast is a twisted photon?, 20 Jun 2018, In: Optica. 5, 6, p. 682-686 5 p.

B. J. Wolf, J. A. S. Morton, W. N. MacPherson and S. M. Van Netten, Bio-inspired all-optical artificial neuromast for 2D flow sensing, Mar 2018, In: Bioinspiration and Biomimetics. 13, 2, 026013

G. Anastasiadi, M. Leonard, L. Paterson and W. N. MacPherson, Fabrication and characterization of machined multi-core fiber tweezers for single cell manipulation, 1 Feb 2018, In: Optics Express. 26, 3, p. 3557-3567

J. Li, Y. X. Zhou, Y. X. Guo, G. Y. Wang, R. R. J. Maier, D. P. Hand and W. N. MacPherson, Label-free ferrule-top optical fiber micro-cantilever biosensor, 23 Jul 2018, In : Sensors and Actuators A: Physical

R. A. McCracken, F. Graffitti and A. Fedrizzi, Numerical investigation of mid-infrared single photons, Journal of the Optical Society of America B 35 C38-C48 (2018)

I. Bitharas, N. A. McPherson, W. McGhie, D. Roy and A. J. Moore, Visualisation and optimisation of shielding gas coverage during MIG welding, Journal of Materials Processing Technology 255 451–462 (2018)

P. Bidare, I. Bitharas, M. Ward, M. M. Attallah and A. J. Moore, Fluid and particle dynamics in laser powder bed fusion, Acta Materialia 142 107–120 (2018)

P. Bidare, I. Bitharas, R. M. Ward, M. M. Attallah and A. J. Moore, Laser powder bed fusion at sub-atmospheric pressures, International Journal of Machine Tools and Manufacture 130–131 65–72 (2018) P. Bidare, I. Bitharas, R. M. Ward, M. M. Attallah and A. J. Moore, Laser powder bed fusion in high-pressure atmospheres, International Journal of Advanced Manufacturing Technology 1-13 (2018)

C. W. Duncan, P. Öhberg and M. Valiente, Exact edge, bulk, and bound states of finite topological systems, 24 May 2018, In: Physical Review B. 97, 19, 195439

R. Dingwall, M. J. Edmonds, J. L. Helm, B. A. Malomed and P. Öhberg, Non-integrable dynamics of matter-wave solitons in a density-dependent gauge theory, Apr 2018, In: New Journal of Physics. 20, 4, 043004

IPaQS Annual Report 201828

K. E. Wilson, N. Westerberg, M. Valiente, C. W. Duncan, E. M. Wright, P. Öhberg and D. Faccio, Observation of Photon Droplets and Their Dynamics, 27 Sep 2018, In: Physical Review Letters. 121, 13, 133903

N. Westerberg, K. E. Wilson, C. W. Duncan, D. Faccio, E. M. Wright, P. Öhberg and M. Valiente, Self-bound droplets of light with orbital angular momentum, 21 Nov 2018, In: Physical Review A. 98, 5, 053835 J. Li, N. H. Le, K. L. Litvinenko, S. K. Clowes, H. E. Engelkamp, S. G. Pavlov, H-W. Hubers, V. B. Shuman, L. M. N. Portsel, A. N. Lodygin, Yu. A. Astrov, N. B. Abrosimov, C. R. Pidgeon, A. Fisher, Z. Zeng, Y-M. Niquet and B. N. Murdin, Radii of Rydberg states of isolated silicon donors, Phys. Rev. B98, 085423 (2018) M. A. W. van Loon, N. Stavrias, N. H. Le, K. L. Litvinenko, P. T. Greenland, C. R. Pidgeon, K. Saeedi, B. Redlich, G. Aeppli and B. N. Murdin, Giant multiphoton absorption for THz resonances in silicon hydrogenic donors, Nature Photonics 12, 179-184 (2018)

L. Maidment, O. Kara, P. G. Schunemann, J. Piper, K. J. McEwan and D. T. Reid, Long-wave infrared generation from femtosecond and picosecond optical parametric oscillators based on orientation-patterned gallium phosphide, Jul 2018, In: Applied Physics B: Lasers and Optics. 124, 7, 143 L. Maidment, P. G. Schunemann, R. J. Clewes, M. D. Bowditch, C. R. Howle and D. T. Reid, Systematic spectral shifts in the mid-infrared spectroscopy of aerosols, 23 Jul 2018, In: Optics Express. 26, 15, p. 18975-18981 7 p.

L. Maidment, P. G. Schunemann and D. T. Reid, White powder identification using broadband coherent light in the molecular fingerprint region, 17 Sep 2018, In: Optics Express. 26, 19, p. 25364-25369

M. F. Saleh, Quasi-phase-matched χ(3) parametric interactions in sinusoidally tapered waveguides, Phys. Rev. A 97, 013850 (2018)

J. Li, T. Wasley, T. Duong, J. Shephard, J. Stringer, P. J. Smith, E. Esenturk, C. Connaughton, R. Harris and R. Kay, Micro Electronic Systems via Multifunctional Additive Manufacturing, 2018, In: Rapid Prototyping Journal. 24, 4, p. 752-763 12 p.

H. Fleming, S. McAughtrie, B. Mills, M. G. Tanner, A. Marks and C. J. Campbell, Dual purpose fibre - SERS pH sensing and bacterial analysis, 21 Dec 2018, In: The Analyst. 143, 24, p. 5918-5925 8 p. S. Yerolatsitis, F. Yu, S. McAughtrie, M. G. Tanner, H. Fleming, J. M. Stone, C. J. Campbell, T. A. Birks and J. C. Knight, Ultra-low background Raman sensing using a negative-curvature fibre and no distal optics, 23 Oct 2018, In: Journal of Biophotonics. e201800239

S. Mukherjee, M. Di Liberto, P. Öhberg, R. R. Thomson and N. Goldman, Experimental observation of Aharonov-Bohm cages in photonic lattices, Phys. Rev. Lett. 121, 075502 (2018)

C. Cantillano, S. Mukherjee, L. Morales-Inostroza, B. Real, G. Cáceres-Aravena, C. Hermann-Avigliano, R. R. Thomson and R. A. Vicencio, Observation of localized ground and excited orbitals in graphene photonic ribbons, New J. Phys. 20, 033028 (2018)

S. Mukherjee, H. K. Chandrasekharan, P. Öhberg, N. Goldman and R. R. Thomson, State-recycling and time-resolved imaging in topological photonic lattices, Nat. Commun. 9, 4209 (2018) H. L. Butcher, D. G. MacLachlan, D. Lee, R. R. Thomson and D. Weidmann, Ultrafast laser-inscribed mid-infrared evanescent field directional couplers in GeAsSe chalcogenide glass, OSA Continuum 1, 221-228 (2018)

H. L. Butcher, D. G. MacLachlan, D. Lee, R. R. Thomson and D. Weidmann, Demonstration and characterization of ultrafast laser-inscribed mid-infrared waveguides in chalcogenide glass IG2, Opt. Express 26, 10930-10943 (2018)

Journal Articles

29

C. A. Ross, D. G. MacLachlan, D. Choudhury and R. R. Thomson, Optimisation of ultrafast laser assisted etching in fused silica, Opt. Express 26, 24343-24356 (2018)

Th. Anagnos, R. J. Harris, M. K. Corrigan, A. P. Reeves, M. J. Townson, D. G. MacLachlan, R. R. Thomson, T. J. Morris, C. Schwab and A. Quirrenbach, Simulation and optimization of an astrophotonic reformatter, Mon. Notices Royal Astron. Soc. 478, 4881-4889 (2018) L. Labadie, S. Minardi, G. Martın and R. R. Thomson, Progress towards instrument miniaturisation for mid- IR long- baseline interferometry, Experimental Astronomy 46, 433-445 (2018)

O. Ghafur, S. W. Crane, M. Ryszka, J. Bockova, A. Rebelo, L. Saalbach, S. De Camillis, J. B. Greenwood, S. Eden and D. Townsend, Ultraviolet relaxation dynamics in uracil: Time-resolved photoion yield studies using a laser-based thermal desorption source, J. Chem. Phys., 149, 034301, (2018)

O. Schalk, D. Townsend, T. J. A. Wolf, D. M. P. Holland, A. E. Boguslavskiy, M. Szöri and A. Stolow, Time-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy of nitrobenzene and its aldehydes, Chem. Phys. Lett, 691, 379, (2018)

F. Belli, A. Abdolvand, J. C. Travers and P. St J. Russell, Control of ultrafast pulses in a hydrogen-filled hollow-core photonic-crystal fiber by Raman coherence, Phys. Rev. A 97, 013814 (2018) Z. Sun, S. Jiang, A. Martinez, D. Tang and J. C. Travers, Introduction to the Special Issue on Fiber Lasers, in IEEE Journal of Selected Topics in Quantum Electronics, vol. 24, no. 3, pp. 1-2, May-June 2018, Art no. 0200502

D. C. Louie, J. Phillips, L. Tchvialeva, S. Kalia, H. Lui, W. Wang and T. K. Lee, Degree of optical polarization as a tool for detecting melanoma: proof of principle, Dec 2018, In: Journal of Biomedical Optics. 23, 12, 125004

IPaQS Annual Report 201830

Publications List

Book Chapters

Dr R. A. McCracken: ‘SALT as an instrument tester: the experimental laser frequency comb’, Southern African Large Telescope (SALT) Annual Report 2017.

31

EditorshipsNew Awards, Prizes and Fellowships

Dr Cristian Bonato has been awarded a 5 year EPSRC Early-Career Research Fellowship. The fellowship will enable the development of a quantum memory based on individual electronic and nuclear spins in silicon carbide. Silicon carbide, a material widely used by the microelectronics industry, will enable, for the first time, to integrate spintronic, electronic and photonic functionalities on a single device. The grant will fund new facilities to equip the Quantum Photonics Lab to investigate single spins in a wide temperature range (from T=3.5K to room temperature) with high-fidelity sequences of optical and microwave pulses.

Dr Maria Ana Cataluna was selected as a Member of the Technical Programme sub-Committee for Semiconductor Lasers, CLEO/Europe 2019.

Dr Maria Ana Cataluna was accepted as a Member of the Royal Society of Edinburgh Young Academy of Scotland.

Dr Maria Ana Cataluna was selected to become a member of AcademiaNet.

Dr Robert J Collins won the ‘Heriot-Watt University Principal’s Public Engagement Prize 2018’.

Dr Ross Donaldson was awarded the Royal Academy of Engineering Early Career Research Fellowship, 2018 -2023, ‘Practical Optical Ground Station Receivers for Satellite-Based Quantum Communication’.

Dr Erik Gauger was accepted as a Member of the RSE Young Academy of Scotland.

Dr Michael Hartmann was awarded a prestigious Visiting Researcher position at Google through the Google Visiting Faculty Program.

Dr Michael Hartmann was awarded the FET open grant ‘Quromorphic’ as coordinator. The Neuromorphic Quantum Computing (Quromorphic) Project aims to build a computer processor that transfers data in the same way neurons work in the human brain.

Professor Erika Andersson - associate editor for Quantum Information for Physical Review A (since 2015).

Dr Cristian Bonato - editorial board of Scientific Reports.

Professor GS Buller - guest editor ‘Photon Counting Technologies’ Special Section, Optical Engineering Journal (publication date May 2018).

Dr Maria Ana Cataluna - editorial board of Scientific Reports.

Dr Xianzhong Chen - guest editor on special issue on metasurfaces, Journal of Physics D: Applied Physics.

Professor Andrew Moore - editorial board of Optics and Lasers in Engineering.

Dr John Travers - editorial board of the Journal of Physics: Photonics.

Patents

‘Single-photon avalanche diode detector, method for use therefore and method of its manufacture’ P. Vines, K. Kuzmenko, J. Kirdoda, D. D. S. Dumas, M. M. Mirza, R. W. Millar, D. J. Paul and G. S. Buller, Application No: 1814688.6.

‘Improvements in or relating to laser based machining’ P. Blair, C. Courtney, T. Parsonage, A. Lopes, K. L. Wlodarczyk and D. P. Hand, European patent no: 18214474.1 - 1016, filed 20 December 2018.

‘An instrument and principle to image through tissue to determine the location of an optic fibre endoscope’ M.G. Tanner, 1611819.2 UK filing 7/7/2016 PCT/GB2017/052005 7/7/2017 WO2018007829A1 11/01/2018.

‘Multiple point source illumination for inserted medical devices such as NG tubes’, M. G. Tanner, 1800340.0 UK filing 9/1/2018 PCT filing 9/1/2019 (patent not yet formally published).

‘Optical system and method’, R. R. Thomson, WO2018GB51214 20180504.

‘Imaging method and apparatus’, R. R. Thomson WO2017GB52005 20170707.

‘Direct laser writing and chemical etching and optical devices’, R. R. Thomson WO2018GB50195 20180124.

IPaQS Annual Report 201832

PhD AND EngD STUDENTS

33

PhD Students

Surname Forename Email Project Title

Anastasiadi Georgia ga10@hw.ac.uk Machined multicore optical fibres for on-chip optical manipulation

Baker Aneirin ajb17@hw.ac.ukMany-body operations and simulations of lattice gauge theories

with superconducting qubits

Ballesteros-Garcia

Guillem gb173@hw.ac.ukEfficient generation and collection of indistinguishable

single photons

Barrow Peter pb31@hw.ac.uk Photonic cluster state computing

Brown William wmb1@hw.ac.uk Vibrationally assisted quantum optical effects in collective systems

Buggy Yvan yb25@hw.ac.ukHydrodynamical properties of non-linear gauge coupled quantum

fluids

Burton Alexander atb30@hw.ac.ukTemperature control in the additive manufacturing (3D printing) of

metals

Campbell Aidan ac174@hw.ac.ukEfficient light-matter interaction with two-dimensional

semiconductor crystals

Canning David dwc1@hw.ac.uk Quantum digital signatures and quantum amplifiers

Carnemolla Enrico ec25@hw.ac.ukEnhanced nonlinearities in epsilon-near-zero transparent

conductive oxides for applications in nanophotonics

Chan Susan sc470@hw.ac.uk Hidden-object tracking with single-photon detectors

Chen Yang yc2@hw.ac.ukAntiresonant hollow fibers with polygonal cores and pulse

propagation in twisted fibers

Cheng Yuk Shan yc40@hw.ac.ukWide-mode-spacing broadband optical parametrc oscillator

frequency combs

Coates Alexandre ac173@hw.ac.uk Harvesting light beyond classical limits

Collett Oliver ojc30@hw.ac.uk High average power 2µm amplifiers and laser systems

Connolly Peter pc23@hw.ac.uk Next generation imaging using sparse single-photon data

Craigie Karen klc31@hw.ac.uk Spin-photon interfacing in silicon carbide

Crickmore Jonathan jc29@hw.ac.uk Quantum digital signatures

Davidson Scott sd109@hw.ac.ukInformation theoretic optimisation of energy transport in molecular

networks

Di Mauro Villari Leone ld33@hw.ac.uk New physics of 2D materials with Dirac-like dispersion

Dingwall Robert rd103@hw.ac.uk Soliton dynamics in interacting gauge theories

Dondieu Stephen sdd1@hw.ac.ukHigh quality, high speed engraving using high average power

nanosecond pulsed fibre lasers

Duncan Callum cd130@hw.ac.uk Topological and unconventional states of matter

Ehrlich Katjana ke9@hw.ac.ukTime-resolved fibre optic sensing with CMOS SPAD line arrays for

biomedical applications

Fitzgerald Liam lsf1@hw.ac.ukAnalogue gravity approach to the electronic properties of curved

graphene

Graffitti Francesco fg13@hw.ac.uk Hybrid photonic quantum technology

Greener Zoe zmg1@hw.ac.uk Si-on-Ge SPAD technology

Greenwood Harrison hg35@hw.ac.ukEngineering the spectral properties of single photons using

inhomogeneous waveguides

IPaQS Annual Report 201834

PhD Students

Surname Forename Email Project Title

Grigorova Teodora tfg2@hw.ac.uk Ultrafast nonlinear optics in gas-filled hollow-core waveguides

Hann Samuel snh30@hw.ac.ukA novel approach to manufacturing lasers using ultrafast

laser welding

Hayward Rosie rh45@hw.ac.ukQuantum field theory/particle physics analogues in

nonlinear optics

Intaravanne Yuttana yi9@hw.ac.ukNanostructures for developing novel photonic devices with

unusual functionalities

Johnstone Dean dj79@hw.ac.uk Topology of strongly correlated systems

Joshi Sharad sj2@hw.ac.ukComputational analysis of photon echo and exceptional points

dynamics in lossy quantum systems

Kaipurath Rishad mk382@hw.ac.ukLaboratory based models for cosmological expansion using

nonlinear optics

Kamaljith Vikram vk1@hw.ac.ukDevelopmentof 3D photonic structures for advanced

biomedic endoscopy

Kelly Christy ckk1@hw.ac.uk Ising model: a universal framework in condensed matter physics

Koong Zak zk49@hw.ac.ukQuantum teleportation with a telecom wavelength

spin-photon interface

Kuzmenko Kateryna kk18@hw.ac.uk Integrated Ge-on-Si SPADs on Si platforms

Laini Micaela ml114@hw.ac.uk Two dimensional integrated quantum photonics

Lekosiotis Athanasios al104@hw.ac.uk Ultrafast nonlinear optics in gas-filled hollow-core waveguides

Lopes Amiel aal1@hw.ac.uk Picosecond laser micro-machining of glass for optics manufacture

Macleod Nathan nm178@hw.ac.uk Digital manufacturing of industrial lasers

Madden Gillian gem31@hw.ac.ukUltrafast laser inscription of mid-infrared guided wave components

for astronomical interferometry

Maitland-Warne Calum cm350@hw.ac.ukGravitational and quantum field theory analogues in condensed

matter physics and nonlienar optics

Matin Amirali am626@hw.ac.uk Novel real-time imaging system

Mavridou Parthena pm24@hw.ac.ukGrowth and characterisation of 11-VI overlays integrated with Ill-VI

device structures

McArthur Sam srm37@hw.ac.ukOptimising ultrafast laser processing processes using

structured light

McDonald Mark mwm32@hw.ac.uk Laser post-processing of metal additively manufactured parts

McNicholl Duncan dkm2@hw.ac.uk Advanced microendoscopy modalities

McShane Eunan epm1@hw.ac.uk Tracking medical devices using time-corrrelated single

photon counting imaging

Meckamalil Eldose

Nirosh nm20@hw.ac.ukMBE growth and epitaxial lift-off of II-VI semiconductors

for device applications

Mitchell Toby tm55@hw.ac.uk Femtosecond frequency combs for precision distance metrology

Moore Chester cbm4@hw.ac.uk Fluids of light

Morris Daniel dm113@hw.ac.ukUltra-short-pulse 2 µm wavelength

oscillator-amplifier development

Morrison Christopher clm6@hw.ac.uk Frequency conversion for quantum networking

35

Surname Forename Email Project Title

Nicoll Graeme gan2@hw.ac.ukInvestigating the interaction between laser parameters for ultra-fast

laser processing of glass

Novo Catarina ccn2@hw.ac.ukPrecision laser micromachining of hollow core negative

curvature fibres

Padinjaroottu Charinjathil

MohananSyam sp29@hw.ac.uk

Picosecond laser procedures to enhance the efficacy of tissue resection

Papachristou Nikolitsa np15@hw.ac.ukDevelopment of optical fibre curvature sensors for

subsea instrumentation

Picard Raphael rmp5@hw.ac.uk An artificial atom in a two-dimensional semiconductor

Pickston Alexander ap343@hw.ac.uk Quantum communication with photonic cluster states

Pike Fraser fap30@hw.ac.uk Precision photonic spectroscopy for astronomy and metrology

Prizia Radivoje rp38@hw.ac.uk Photon fluids and photon condensation

Proietti Massimiliano mp68@hw.ac.uk All-optical quantum networking

Reichmuth David dr23@hw.ac.uk Quantum communication and quantum measurements

Ricketti Berke bvr1@hw.ac.uk Ultrafast sunlight emulator for quantum biology

Risbridger Donald drr30@hw.ac.uk Novel technologies to enhance minimally invasive laser surgery

Robson Charles cwr1@hw.ac.uk Particle physics analogues in nonlinear optics

Ross Alex ar300@hw.ac.uk Additive manufacture (3D printing) of metals

Ross Calum cr120@hw.ac.ukUltrafast laser assisted etching of fibre optic probes for

optical biopsy instruments

Ross David dr55@hw.ac.ukThe effect of luminescent down shifting layers on thin

film solar cells

Saalbach Lisa ls55@hw.ac.ukTime-resolved photoelectron imaging of model

biological chromophores

Sabbah Mohammed ms246@hw.ac.ukUltrafast nonlinear optics in hollow-core waveguides filled

with Raman active gases

Scerri Dale ds32@hw.ac.ukSolid state nanostructures as platforms for emerging quantum

technologies

Sidqi Najwa ns49@hw.ac.uk Ultralow loss dielectric mirrors for quantum device microcavities

Siliprandi Jacopo js281@hw.ac.ukTopological photonics using ultrafast laser inscribed

photonic lattices

Spracklen Alexander aos32@hw.ac.ukAn investigation of transport phenomena in lattices using

waveguide arrays

Srivastava Anchit as427@hw.ac.ukPISTACHIO - photonic imaging strategies for technical art history

and conservation

Thorburn Fiona ft43@hw.ac.uk Chalcogenide photonics

Tkalcec Kimberly ket3@hw.ac.uk Gain extraction of a multipass high energy amplifier

Tobin Rachael rt2@hw.ac.ukOptical quantum detection techniques for rapid acquisition of

high-resolution depth images

Tyler Max mat3@hw.ac.uk SPAD array technologies for high-dimensional quantum systems

Valenti Rojas Gerard gv16@hw.ac.uk Topology of strongly correlated systems

IPaQS Annual Report 201836

Surname Forename Email Project Title

Wang Kexin kw34@hw.ac.uk Optical code based secure optical communication system

Westerberg Niclas nkw2@hw.ac.uk Superfluid analogues of gravity

White Daniel dw29@hw.ac.uk Spin-active defects in SiC and diamond devices

Wu Shouyue sw87@hw.ac.uk Hollow anti-resonant optical fibres for high power laser applications

Zanforlin Ugo uz2@hw.ac.ukQuantum communications: quantum digital signatures and

quantum amplifiers

Zhang Chunmei cz8@hw.ac.ukComplete control of polarisation and phase of light

with meta-surface

PhD Students

37

Surname Forename Programme Thesis Title

Agnew Megan PhD The spatial state of non-interacting photons

Amiri Ryan PhD Practical unconditionally secure signature schemes and related protocols

Bidare Prveen PhDAn-open architecture metal powder bed fusion system and its use for

in-situ process monitoring

Bitharas Ioannis EngD Visualisation of shielding gas flows during high-value manufacturing

Bolduc Eliot PhD Directly measuring quantum and classical systems

Branny Artur PhDSpectroscopy and accurate spatial positioning of quantum emitters hosted

by two-dimensional semiconductors

Brown Oliver PhD Games for quantum research

Carvalho David PhD Table top particle physics with graphene

Charsley JakeMSc by

ResearchWide-mode-spacing broadband laser frequency combs for astronomy

Crane Stuart PhD Time resolved spectroscopy of non volatile biomolecule analogues

Diederich Gilles PhD Strain measurements with GHz and THz radiation

Dzipalski Adrian PhD Photonic devices for sensing and security applications

Etieve DannyMSc by

ResearchStress analysis of ceramic thermal barrier coatings using THz instrumentation

Jha Nitin PhD Rare-earth elements doped novel photonics sources

Kara Oguzhan PhDMid-infrared dual comb spectroscopy with asynchronous optical

parametric oscillators

Kleczkowska Klaudia PhD Unambiguous quantum measurements for quantum communication

Kumar Pragati PhD Imaging and spectroscopy of solid-state quantum emitters

Kuzhikkattu Chandrasekharan

Harikumar PhD Time-resolved imaging of guided wave phenomena

Lisowska Aneta EngD Learning from limited data: three case studies in healthcare

Maidment Luke EngDCoherent sources and techniques for chemical sensing using

broadband mid-infrared light

Morris James EngD Microfabrication of photonic devices for mid infrared optical applications

Polyzos Dimitrios PhDLong-term stability tests of intrinsic Fabry-Perot optical fibre sensors

at high temperatures

Sameti Mahdi PhD Quantum simulation with periodically driven superconducting circuits

Sumskis Gediminas EngD High average power ultrashort pulse planar waveguide amplifier

Thesis Final Submissions 2018

IPaQS Annual Report 201838

Surname Forename/s Email Project Title

Ahmad Munadi ma102@hw.ac.ukDevelopment of the technologies and techniques required to

increase the repetition rate of high energy lasers

Blackwell Christopher cjb5@hw.ac.uk Holographic 3D displays

Cosgun Tamer tyc30@hw.ac.uk Development of fibre-based gas sensors for inaccessible locations

De Vido Mariastefania md50@hw.ac.ukDevelopment and application of high-energy, high pulse

repetition rate diode-pumped solid state lasers

Del Bino Leonardo ld29@hw.ac.uk Microresonator based optical frequency combs

Dyer Tom td13@hw.ac.ukDevelopment and integration of optical interrogated diagnostics

with materials ageing experiments

Flaherty Natalie naf3@hw.ac.uk Image processing for situational awareness in urban environments

Geremia Riccardo rg18@hw.ac.uk Industrial laser microprocessing and process optimisation

Godoy Vilar Juan Pedro jg51@hw.ac.uk Laser surface engineering for enhanced functional performance

Gore Ben bg66@hw.ac.ukAdaptive optics and aberrations correction for

super-resolution microscopy

Guo Yili yg72@hw.ac.uk Non-linear optics for high power solid state lasers

Harrison Paul pdh4@hw.ac.ukDevelopment, production and characterisation of

laser-machined micro-optics

Hill Calum chh30@hw.ac.uk Fibre laser technology for challenging applications

Horjkovs Vladimirs vh5@hw.ac.uk Robust high dynamic range transducers for surface form and finish

Knights Matthew mhk1@hw.ac.ukDevelopment of a one-step-interconnect process for CIGS based

thin-film photovoltaics

May-Wilson Gregory gm111@hw.ac.uk Short pulse lasers for machining composite materials

Michalska Anna am609@hw.ac.uk Precision distance measurement for a harsh environment

Michie Benjamin bjm10@hw.ac.ukDistributed temperature and strain sensing within

metallic ALM structures

Mitchell Paul pm205@hw.ac.uk3D guided-wave photonics for next generation

communications networks

Pocock Rowan rap7@hw.ac.ukAdvanced optical coupling solutions for datacenter transceiver

platforms

Quinn Gary gq4@hw.ac.ukDevelopment of a diode-pumped solid-state laser

system operating at 10 J, 100 Hz

Reilly Michael mer4@hw.ac.ukHigh power and high energy lasers: new materials, laser device

architectures and laser beam modelling

SmithNicholas-Alexander

ns63@hw.ac.uk Compact wind LIDAR: towards hand held remote sensing of wind

Webb David dw132@hw.ac.ukThe investigation and development of heavy metal free quantum

dot devices for use in the general lighting markets

Woodley Michael mmw1@hw.ac.uk Interaction between counter-propagating light

Wright Hollie hw33@hw.ac.ukFrequency-comb metrology for manufacturing II: developing

dual-comb distance metrology concepts and applications

EngD Students

39

OSA Student Chapter

OSA-IPaQS Society

Our society is an official Student Chapter of the Optical Society of America (OSA) based within Heriot-Watt’s Institute of Photonics and Quantum Sciences (IPaQs). We have also recently affiliated with the Institute of Physics (IOP) to enable networking across a broader range of research areas.

We aim to encourage cross-collaboration within the optics and photonics community, both at home and internationally, and provide a communication platform for postgraduate students and research staff working within (or simply interested in) these fields of research. Alongside this, we also engage in outreach activities in order to promote an interest in photonics and optics to the public. These aims help our members to develop further, both personally and as professional scientists.

By providing lab tours, often led by other students and early-career researchers, we encourage networking and communication between distinct (and occasionally interdisciplinary) research groups, and allow the tour leaders to present their work to a wider audience.

This is a fantastic opportunity for them to boost their presentation skills and gain experience in responding to scientific queries.

Within the past year, we have run numerous social events within the department, and plan to run even more! These events allow the department to network further, and help bolster their working relationships. We also organise an annual department BBQ in the summer, since beer is always a good catalyst to “scientific” discussion! Our committee are actively involved in organising the weekly coffee and doughnuts morning break, and you can see some of our members at this coffee break in the photograph.

Outreach events we have been involved in over the past year include Midlothian Science Festival, Haddington Science Festival, the IOP Festival of Physics, and the Space themed “Science Late” at Glasgow Science Centre. At Christmas we ran a successful bake sale for the UNHCR “Give refugee children a chance to learn” charity, raising £81.

IPaQS Annual Report 201840

EDUCATION AND TRAINING

41

Centre for Doctoral Training in Applied Photonics

2018 has been an important year for the CDT. In September 2018 we welcomed our fifth and final cohort of Research Engineers to our CDT. We are also delighted to report the first of our CDT students submitted their thesis in 2018 and we look forward to their graduations in 2019.

In June, we held our second biennial international summer school in St Andrews (pictured). The Schools focus this year was Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Photonics and we were delighted to welcome Professor Sir David Payne from Southampton’s Optoelectronics Research Centre as keynote speaker. In December we received the news that our re-bid for continued funding of the CDT was successful, being among the 25% of existing CDTs to receive continued funding. The new Centre will maintain the “CDT Applied Photonics” brand, but will have an explicit emphasis on industrially inspired photonic imaging, sensing and analysis. We look forward to an exciting future as the Centre evolves over the next 8 years.

Our students continue to take an active role in advocating for the programme and contributing to

shape the STEM community. Vladimirs Horjkovs was appointed as Research Engineer Representative to the Association of Engineering Doctorates (AEngD Steering Group). Hollie Wright was also appointed to the WISE Young Members board.

Mariastefania De Vido was awarded the prestigious Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851 Industrial Fellowship. Stefania is now the second CDT in Applied Photonics student to receive the award. Christopher Blackwell was invited to present some of his research and represent his company sponsor, Holoxica at the Science for a Successful Nation Exhibit. The success of this presentation, lead to an invitation for Christopher to represent EPSRC UKRI research in Washington DC in early 2019. Our third year students presented their research at Glasgow Science as part of a public engagement workshop. In November five of our Research Engineers took part in the WES Lottie tour, aimed at engaging young children in STEM subjects (pictured).

For more information on the CDT in Applied Photonics, please visit the CDT website: www.cdtphotonics.hw.ac.uk

The CM-CDT is a doctoral training partnership between SUPA Condensed Matter physics activities at Heriot-Watt, St Andrews and Edinburgh Universities. The CM-CDT has a threefold purpose: to provide students with a rigorous, broad graduate education across the spectrum of Condensed Matter Physics; to train them in skills that equip them for the workplace, be it industrial or academic; and to foster a vibrant, diverse research environment for their PhD projects. This endeavor is supported by EPSRC, University, Scottish Funding Council and other funding sources.

Students perform a PhD research project, take graduate level courses integrated with the SUPA Graduate School, participate in summer schools, conferences, workshops, and receive skills training relevant to their future careers. We aspire to produce well-rounded graduates equipped to lead in research, academia, and a wide range of industries and businesses.

First destinations of our graduates are shown in the pie chart above and demonstrates the wide spread of careers available to well-rounded Doctoral graduates.

The CM-CDT runs an Industrial placement programme funded by SUPA and EPSRC. Students benefit from placements with the CM-CDT Industrial Associates ranging from 2 weeks to 3 months. These placements give students the opportunities to learn about working in industry and broadens their transferable skills.

For more information on all of the above and more, see: www.cm-cdt.supa.ac.uk.

IPaQS Annual Report 201842

CDT Condensed Matter

Industry

Central Facilities

Start-up company

Postdoc Research

Unknown

CM-CDT Student Destinations after PhD

43

MSc in Photonics and Optoelectronic Devices (POED)

This well-established 12-month MSc has students studying at St Andrews for semester one, Heriot-Watt in semester two, then a 3.5 month summer project that is usually undertaken in industry. This gives our students access to the broad and complementary range of photonics expertise at our two institutions. There are scholarships supported by ST Microelectronics and sponsorships from various companies for the projects and prizes. More information at www.st-andrews.ac.uk/study/pg/taught-programmes/pod-physics. This is a very successful course. So far, we have graduated more than 550 students. All the students find suitable employment just after completing the course, both in academia and industry. We aim to accept on average 15 to 20 highly qualified students in the course. For more information contact: a.k.kar@hw.ac.uk

IPaQS Annual Report 201844

OUTREACH AND OTHER ACTIVITIES

45

Dr Cristian BonatoSiC quantum spintronics: towards quantum devices in a technological material at the Kavli Royal Society Centre, 5th November 2018.

Dr Erik GaugerOrbs (quantum inspired computer game) and Quantum Robin (VR/AR activity based on bird compass)- at the Glasgow Science Centre on 13th April 2018 as

part of its ‘Meet the Expert’ series (Quantum Robin)- as part of the EISF Family Fun Day on 14th April 2018

at Oriam- at the IOP Festival of Physics on 27th and 28th

November 2018 at Dynamic Earth

Professor Ajoy KarSeven interns (from different schools in Edinburgh) each spent one week in Professor Kar’s lab.

Atomic Architects‘Atomic Architects’ - at the Royal Society Summer Science Exhibit in London

in July 2018- at the Edinburgh Science Festival on 14th April 2018- at the Explorathon Day/Door Open Day at the Lyell

Centre on 29th September 2018- at the IOP Festival of Physics on 27th and

28th November 2018 at Dynamic Earth

Single Photon GroupIn response to an open request from the Quantum City public engagement initiative, an electronic, interactive, quantum physics experiment for all the family demonstrator (MacroPhoton) was designed and built entirely at Heriot-Watt University by Dr Robert Collins and co-funded by the School of Engineering and Physical Sciences and the UK Quantum Technology Hub for Quantum Communications Technologies.

Throughout 2018 MacroPhoton acted as the exhibit for the communications topic in Quantum City public engagement initiative administered by the UK National Quantum Technologies Programme. This partnership facilitated its presence at a variety of events including: - Cheltenham Science Festival 2018 (2 days)- Glasgow Science Festival Imagines at Kelvingrove

(2 days)- New Scientist Live 2018 (2 days)- Institute of Physics’ Festival of Physics 2018 (2 days)

In addition to the Quantum City events, MacroPhoton was also demonstrated as part of the Quantum Communications Hub’s Quantum Technology School (QTS), the Quantum Technologies Public Dialogue launch event and independently at Explorathon 2018.

Outreach Events

IPaQS Annual Report 201846

Atomic ArchitectsRoyal Society Summer Science Exhibition, London, July 2018

Brian Gerardot, Ian Galbraith, Cristian Bonato, and Fabio Biancalana and their ‘Atomic Architects’ team from IPaQS took part in the prestigious Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition in 2018, which celebrates the cutting edge of UK science. Seven fast-paced but enjoyable days were spent at the Royal Society in London chatting to visitors of all ages about the excitement of atomically thin crystals for discovering new science and making new technologies.

The Atomic Architects team created an interactive exhibit to engage all audiences. Visitors could isolate single sheets of atoms by exfoliating (or peeling off ) from a large crystal and examine their efforts with a microscope. Many visitors took a ‘selfie’ of their colourful crystals and emailed it to themselves for longevity. To help the visitors appreciate how many atomic layers they had exfoliated and why they were so colourful, a thin film interference demonstration was made using bubbles – a popular feature for younger visitors!

An eye-catching part of the exhibit was the large interactive moiré wheel which would spin a top sheet of and atomic crystal relative to the bottom layer to produce a mesmerizing display of moiré patterns. This model, along with some hand-held paper moiré images, helped explain how atomic spacing and patterns affect the electronic and optical properties of materials and how fine-tuning of the atomic layers can lead to entirely new materials.

The final exhibit was an atomically thin LED made by Raphael Picard, a PhD student in IPaQS. The LED was popular with visitors: it looked amazing and visitors could see and hold the actual device. This led to interesting discussions about the future uses of a wide range of applications, from LEDs to quantum technologies. The video game (Atomic Architects - available on Android Play and Apple App Store) showed the challenges an electron faces in crystals to produce light - a popular game for kids of all ages!

Overall it was a tiring but fantastic week which everyone enjoyed and we even made use of the great weather to do some sightseeing around the capital during our down-time.

I was at the Atomic Architects Exhibit – Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition 2018

47

Professor Erika AnderssonQuantum Wonderland for S4-S6, Y10-Y13

Dr Maria Ana CatalunaLight in the fast lane: what can ultrafast lasers do? for S3-S4

Dr Alessandro FedrizziAre you for real? Spooky action and other quantum mysteries for S3-S6, Y10-Y13

Professor Ian GalbraithAstrophysics for S3-S6, Y10-Y13

Dr Erik GaugerQuantum biology for S3-S6, Y9-Y13

Dr Brian GerardotChanging the light-bulb for S3-S6, Y10-Y13

Dr Robert ThomsonUsing lasers to find ET for S3-S6, Y10-Y13

Schools talks

IPaQS Annual Report 201848

In 2018, the following Heriot-Watt University undergraduate students were awarded IPAQS summer scholarships.

Andrew Brine worked in Alessandro Fedrizzi’s group on Photonics Quantum Computing. Scott Hermon joined Sam Chen’s group to study Nanostructure Hologram for Polarization Measurement. Gregor MacEwan worked with Bill MacPherson on Manufacturing of Miniaturised Optical Fibre-based Pressure Sensors. Jonathan Leach welcomed Imogen Morland to work on Random Number Generation using a SPAD Array Sensor. Christopher Sparling worked in Dave Townsend’s group on Assembly and Testing of an Ultra-high Vacuum Spectrometer. Lastly, Frazer Sweeney worked with Derryck Reid’s group on Measuring Atmospheric Gases Using Mid-Infrared Light.

Professor Gerald Buller welcomed Alistair Clarke from the University of St Andrews, who worked on Higher Dimensional Feed-forward State Comparison Amplification.

Romane Moulin joined Erik Gauger to work on a project entitled Superradiance meets cavity QED, for which she won Rank Prize Foundation funding.

Summer Intern Projects

49

Jonathan Finley, Technische Universität München, Quantum Optics with Semiconductor Artificial Atoms

Ryszard Buczynski, University of Warsaw, Optical Fibre Technology Revisited: Towards Nanostructured Microoptics and Optofluidic Systems

Richard Bowman, University of Bath, Rise of the Machines: how to build more Open, Smarter Labs

Mauro Paternostro, Queens University, Non-Equilibrium Thermodynamics of Quantum Processes

Daniel Oi, Strathclyde University, Space Quantum Science and Technology

Michael Reilly, Heriot-Watt University, Modelling of high power 2um amplifiers: Steady States and Spatio-temporal Dynamics

Kimberly Tkalcec, Heriot-Watt University, Amplification of Ultrashort Pulses

Myung-Joong Hwang, Ulm University, Exploring Non-equilibrium Phases of Matter using Controlled Quantum Systems

Seokwoo Jeon, Director of Advanced MEMS GC Center for Drug Detection, Large-Area, Optical 3D Nanopatterning for Functional Nanomaterials

Mohsen Rahmani, Australian National University, Smart Metasurfaces: New Era of Optics

Viv Kendon, University of Durham, Developing Continuous-time Quantum Computing

Massimiliano Guasoni, University of Southampton, Multi-mode photonics: from Optical Fibres to On-chip Waveguides

Anatoly Zayats, Kings College London, Nonlinear Optics with Hyperbolic Plasmonic Metamaterials

Chris Evans, UK-ATC, ELT: The Biggest Eye on the Sky

Erik Gauger, Heriot Watt University, Learning from Nature: Bio-inspired Quantum Technologies?

Brian Cunningham, University of Illinois, New Forms of Microscopy Enabled by Nanostructured Surfaces

Matthias Widmann, University of Stuttgart, Silicon Vacancies in Silicon Carbide for Quantum Applications

Petros Wallden, University of Edinburgh, Cyber Security in the Quantum Era and the Quantum Cloud Vision

Clara Saraceno, Ruhr University, Modelocked Thin-disk Lasers as Compact Driving Lasers for High-power Sources covering the XUV to the THz Regime

Johannes Lischner, Imperial College, Turning the Electronic Structure of 2d Materials via Defect Engineering and Twisting

Sadiq Muhammad, Stockholm University, Bound Entanglement: Creation and Activation

Seminars

IPaQS Annual Report 201850

FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT

51

Facilities

Cleanroom

HWU’s newly refurbished EPS Cleanroom has recently been enhanced with the integration of the new EPSRC Two-Dimensional Photonics Fabrication Facility, a unique world-leading facility capable of characterising two-dimensional materials and rapid fabrication of bespoke photonic devices.

The 2D fabrication facility is comprised of four main instruments to complement the array of existing cleanroom equipment. The centrepiece instrument, a “maskless” direct write laser, is a lithographic tool to rapidly fabricate large scale but bespoke 2D photonic devices with novel functionalities. The maskless laser writer bridges the gap in lateral resolution and write speed between electron beam lithography and conventional photolithography to enable rapid fabrication of nanoscale photonic devices over large areas. The unique lithography system is augmented by an electron beam evaporator enabling deposition of high-quality metals and dielectrics with nanometre precision onto devices lithographically defined by the direct write laser. Finally, for the ultimate in thin-film, surface and materials metrology, a spectroscopic imaging ellipsometer (EP4 from Accurion) is used. This unique instrument is crucial for characterization, either pre- or post-fabrication by the lithographic tool, of emerging two-dimensional semiconductor devices. The Facility is completed by a custom-designed glovebox with integrated optical characterization tools for the bespoke fabrication and initial characterization of robust and pristine 2D semiconductor heterostructures. With this setup, one can create new quantum devices with all degrees of freedom – even the angle of rotation between the different crystal layers, encapsulate them, and even deterministically incorporate them onto photonic chips for applications in both classical and quantum photonics.

IPaQS Annual Report 201852

Associate Professor Dr. John Travers (centre) and two of his PhD students Teodora Grigorova and Athanasios Lekosiotis work on the HISOL beam-line in the new LUPO labs of the David Brewster Building.

The new Laboratory of Ultrafast Physics and Optics (LUPO), run by Dr. John Travers, was constructed in 2016 and commissioned in 2017. The refurbishment and new research activity is funded by €1.7m from a European Research Council Starting Grant (HISOL) and start-up funding from the School of Engineering and Physical Sciences. The work in the LUPO-labs is focused on the production of new light sources through ultrafast nonlinear optics, especially in the extended propagation regime (i.e. fibres, hollow-waveguides and filamentation). We then apply these sources to study fundamental linear and nonlinear light-matter interaction using advanced ultrafast spectroscopy techniques, both in-house and through collaborations. Our first vacuum and deep ultraviolet beam-line (running from the left-hand corner of the picture to the vacuum chamber next to Dr. Travers in the centre) has just seen “first-light”, producing more than 20 μJ in near single-cycle pulses, tunable from 110 nm to 300 nm.

Laser Laboratory

A new laser lab has been commissioned for IPAQS. The lab is located in the ground floor of the Scott Russell building and was ready at the end of 2017. The lab will support the research of Dr. Maria Ana Cataluna and her group, funded by an ERC Starting Grant (UPTIME: Real-TIME probing of Ultrafast Phenomena). Among other lines of research, the lab will support the development of novel high-speed optical sensing methods and corresponding applications, new semiconductor ultrafast/tunable lasers and systems and ultrafast spectroscopy to investigate the dynamics of semiconductor materials.

Laboratories

HISOL beam-line in the new LUPO laboratory

£10,007,557Research Income

36Faculty

Members

50PDRAs

116PhD and EngD

Students

85Publications

1 Director’s Statement

2 Research Highlights

6 Faculty and Staff

12 Research Projects and Technology Developments

20 New Grant Awards

24 Publications, Patents and Awards

32 PhD and EngD Students

40 Education and Training

44 Outreach and Other Activities

50 Facilities and Equipment

The Institute of Photonics and Quantum Sciences

ANNUAL REPORT 20

18

THE INSTITUTE OF PHOTONICS AND QUANTUM SCIENCES School of Engineering and Physical SciencesDavid Brewster BuildingHeriot-Watt UniversityEdinburgh, EH14 4ASUK

+44 (0) 131 451 4494ipaqs@hw.ac.ukwww.ipaqs.hw.ac.uk