light times magazine

Issue 2 | 2015

Optical fibres and brain-like computing | page 4Blue Sky Thinking | page 12 New Institute tackles big societal challenges | page 14

Light TimesNews from the Optoelectronics Research Centre

Developing ground-breaking applications of light-enabled technologies

2 Light Times | issue 2 2015

Welcome to Light Times, the magazine for the Optoelectronics Research Centre (ORC) at the University of Southampton. In this issue we continue our series of interviews with directors and leading programme investigators at the ORC. We talk to ORC Deputy Director Nikolay Zheludev about his work in metamaterials and his role as Director at the Centre for Disruptive Photonic Technologies at the new Photonics Institute in Singapore in our feature, Blue Sky Thinking.

We look at research into faster and smarter optical computers that have the potential to learn and develop like the human brain. We also bring you up to date with our latest news, awards and published research.

To keep abreast of our latest news please visit www.orc.southampton.ac.uk

We welcome your feedback, so please get in touch and let us know what you would like to see in future editions of Light Times.

Deanna Standen | Editor, Light Times [email protected]

In this issue

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1. Optical fibres light the way Chalcogenides fibres used in the development of computers that function like the human brain Page 4

2. Making light work of garden design United Nations International Year of Light public engagement activity continues apace with unique garden at RHS Tatton Flower Show Page 8

3. Blue Sky Thinking Light Times speaks to ORC Deputy Director, Professor Nikolay Zheludev, about his work at the ORC and as the Director of the Centre for Disruptive Photonic Technologies at the Photonics Institute in Singapore Page 12

4. Tackling big challenges Developing ground-breaking applications of light-enabled technologies at the new Photonics Institute in Singapore Page 14

5. Award winning research collaboration International research in collaboration with the ORC wins prestigious Charles Kao Award Page 17

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Optical fibres light the way for brain-like computing


The research, published in Advanced Optical Materials, has the potential to allow faster and smarter optical computers capable of learning and evolving.

Researchers from the Optoelectronics Research Centre (ORC) at the University of Southampton and the Centre for Disruptive Photonic Technologies (CDPT) at the Nanyang Technological University (NTU) have demonstrated how neural networks and synapses in the brain can be reproduced, with optical pulses as information carriers, using special fibres made from glasses that are sensitive to light, known as chalcogenides.

Co-author Professor Dan Hewak from the ORC, says: Since the dawn of the computer age, scientists have sought ways to mimic the behaviour of the human brain, replacing neurons and our nervous system with electronic switches and memory. Now instead of electrons, light and optical fibres also show promise in achieving a brain-like computer. The cognitive functionality of central neurons underlies the adaptable nature and information processing capability of our brains.

In the last decade, neuromorphic computing research has advanced software and

electronic hardware that mimic brain functions and signal protocols, aimed at improving the efficiency and adaptability of conventional computers.

However, compared to our biological systems, todays computers are more than a million times less efficient. Simulating five seconds of brain activity takes 500 seconds and needs 1.4 MW of power, compared to mere calories burned by the human brain.

Using conventional fibre drawing techniques, microfibres can be produced from chalcogenide (glasses based on sulphur) that possess a variety of broadband photoinduced effects, which allow the fibres to be switched on and off. This optical switching or light switching light, can be exploited for a variety of next generation computing applications capable of processing vast amounts of data in a much more energy-efficient manner.

Co-author Dr Behrad Gholipour explains: By going back to biological systems for inspiration and using mass-manufacturable photonic platforms, such as chalcogenide fibres, we can start to improve the speed and efficiency of conventional computing architectures, while introducing adaptability and learning into the next generation of devices.

By exploiting the material properties of the chalcogenides fibres, the team, led by Professor Cesare Soci at NTU, has demonstrated a range of optical equivalents of brain functions. These include holding a neural resting state and the changes in electrical activity in a nerve cell as it is stimulated. In the proposed optical version of this brain function, the changing properties of the glass act as the varying electrical activity in a nerve cell, and light provides the stimulus to change these properties. This enables switching of a light signal, which is the equivalent to a nerve cell firing.

This paves the way for scalable brain-like computing systems that enable photonic neurons with ultrafast signal transmission speeds, higher bandwidth, and lower power consumption than biological and electronic counterparts.

Professor Cesare Soci said: This work implies that cognitive photonic devices and networks can be effectively used to develop non-Boolean computing and decision-making paradigms that mimic brain functionalities and signal protocols, to overcome bandwidth and power bottlenecks of traditional data processing.

Computers that function like the human brain, using optical fibres made of speciality glass, could soon become a reality according to new research.


Lightwave engages ETOP 2015ORC PhD students have presented a paper about the Lightwave Roadshow at the Education and Training in Optics and Photonics (ETOP) conference.

Hosted by the Institut dOptique dAquitaine at Bordeaux University in France from 29 June to 2 July, the conference brought together academics and educators in optics and photonics, and covered a range of topics from curriculum development and pedagogy to outreach.

Presented by ORC PhD student Nicholas Wong, the paper reports on the Lightwave Roadshow teams outreach and public engagement mission; their activities and impact. Supported by co-authors fellow ORC PhD student and Lightwave director Matthew Posner, and public engagement leader Pearl John from Physics and Astronomy, the paper will be published in SPIE Proceedings.

Find out more about our Lightwave programme at: www.osa.orc.soton.ac.uk/lightwave.html

Scientists from the Optoelectronics Research Centre headed out into Southamptons pubs in May to present their latest discoveries as part of the Pint of Science Festival.

Launched in 2012, the festival takes place annually over three days in pubs across the world. The festival brings some of the most brilliant scientists to venues across the UK to discuss their research and findings with members of the public.

Professor Peter Smith and Dr Francesca Parmigiani explored with patrons the many powerful applications of light in the big data era. From the unique features of nonlinear processes and their uses in secure communications and quantum computing to the potential for all-optical signal processing to provide an environmentally-friendly solution to the impending internet capacity crunch.

Science on tap in Southampton


International Womens Day talk inspires sixth-form studentsPolina Bayvel, Professor of Optical Communications & Networks at University College London, visited the University of Southampton to deliver a talk aimed at inspiring local sixth-form students.

The event, on International Womens Day in March, focused on how light technology is used in communications, with the aim of encouraging female students to study science and consider science and engineering careers.

Amy Tong, 1st year PhD student and Lightwave ambassador, said: It was lovely to see so many girls showing an interest in STEM subjects, and to interact with them. It was also a great opportunity to attend a fascinating and inspiring talk by Professor Bayvel.

Outreach brings Photonics4All The Optoelectronics Research Centre is continuing to mark the 2015 International Year of Light by participating in a new two-year project, Photonics4All, which is helping people and businesses throughout Europe understand the importance of photonics.

Funded by the European Commission, the outreach project involves 10 partners from nine European countries, including the ORC.

It aims to raise awareness of the importance of photonics and make it accessible to the general public, students, young people, business and industry through a variety of activities and events including business innovation workshops and start-up challenges.

For more information on the project visit www.photonics4all.eu

Meet us at the following events:

Photonics day, hosted by the Zepler Institute, Devere Grand hotel, Southampton 8 September 2015

British Science Festival, University of Bradford 7-10 September 2015

EPSRC Manufacturing the Future Conference, Churchill College, Cambridge 17-18 September 2015

41st European Conference on Optical Communication, Valencia 27 September -1 October 2015

Unifying physics and technology in light of Maxwells equations Royal Society, London 16-17 November 2015

For further information visit our events page: www.orc.southampton.ac.uk/events.html

Drawn by

Reference

Scale

Date

Elks-Smith Landscape & Garden DesignCastle MalwoodMinsteadSouthamptonHampshireSO43 7PETelephone 023 8178 2660

All dimensions & levels must be checked on

site and not scaled up from this drawing,

prior to the commencement of any works on

site. This drawing and the copyrights therein

are the property of the designer and may not

be used or reproduced without consent.

This drawing to be read in conjunction with

all relevant consultants and/or specialist's

drawings, documents and any discrepancies

or variations are to the notified to the

designer before the affected work

commences.All drawings are subject to engineers

approval.Copyright Helen Elks-Smith

Client/ProjectRHS Tatton 2015

International Year of Light

1:50

Title

Reflecting Photonics

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A3at

12/3/15


Reflecting Photonics garden wins Peoples Choice Award

Drawn by

Reference

Scale

Date

Elks-Smith Landscape & Garden DesignCastle MalwoodMinsteadSouthamptonHampshireSO43 7PETelephone 023 8178 2660

All dimensions & levels must be checked on

site and not scaled up from this drawing,

prior to the commencement of any works on

site. This drawing and the copyrights therein

are the property of the designer and may not

be used or reproduced without consent.

This drawing to be read in conjunction with

all relevant consultants and/or specialist's

drawings, documents and any discrepancies

or variations are to the notified to the

designer before the affected work

commences.All drawings are subject to engineers

approval.Copyright Helen Elks-Smith

Client/ProjectRHS Tatton 2015

International Year of Light

1:50

Title

Reflecting Photonics

HES

A3at

12/3/15


Reflecting Photonics, the International Year of Light garden sponsored by two centres at the University of Southampton, has been voted Best Garden in the Peoples Choice Awards at the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) show at Tatton Park.

Sponsored by the Optoelectronics Research Centre (ORC) in conjunction with the EPSRC Centre for Innovative Manufacturing in Photonics, the Reflecting Photonics garden was conceived in response to the RHS open competition for entries to the show for conceptual gardens based on UNESCOs International Year of Light.

Designed by Elks-Smith Garden Design, the garden had already been awarded Gold by RHS judges at the show and has featured in two prime time BBC2 special programmes

about the RHS Tatton show (23rd and 24th July 2015). The garden was inspired by a visit to the ORCs speciality fibre production facilities and clean rooms.

We were struck by the parallels between the cross sectional patterns of this next generation of fibre optics and vascular bundles: the transport mechanism of plants. We were also interested in how light, although it travels in straight lines, reflects internally along these fibres and so appears to curve.

The show draws in some 80,000 visitors and has provided a novel platform to engage the wider public in the science and technology of Light. Pearl John, Public Engagement team leader for the project explains: Much of our work is conducted in schools, colleges and universities, with visitors already thinking

about education. RHS Tatton has given us an opportunity to reach a broader public who may not realise the opportunity and value of science and technology subjects as careers and which help feed the UK economy.

Im very glad that weve had such an enthusiastic response from people visiting the garden and talking to our outreach team. Winning the Peoples Choice Award for Best Garden reinforces how inspirational the garden is and its a great outcome for our collaboration with Elks-Smith Garden Design.

Special thanks go to our energetic and talented outreach team: Matt Posner, Lieke Van Putten, Nathan Soper and Tina Parsonage.

The Peoples Choice Best Garden is awarded to gardens voted by the public as best in category, in this case, Best Large Garden.


Outstanding PhD student amplifies her career prospects

PhD student Qiongyue Kang has been awarded the highly regarded Chinese Government Award for Outstanding Students Abroad.

The award targets top-tier Chinese PhD students who have not received funding from the Chinese government. Open to disciplines in 29 countries including, USA, UK, German, Japan, Australia and Canada, the coveted award, which comes with a $6,000 US dollar cash prize, has been received by only 30 students in the UK this year.

Qiongyue, who hails from Hunan province in China, said: I am absolutely delighted to receive this prestigious award and to have my efforts and hard work recognised and rewarded. I would like to thank my supervisor, Professor Dave Richardson, and my colleagues for their guidance and support throughout my PhD.

My research topic is: The design and optimisation of multi-mode EDFAs (Erbium Doped Fibre Amplifiers) for the space-division multiplexing systems solution to the predicted capacity crunch. My theoretical work is strongly backed by the fabrication and characterisation teams in the ORC and my amplifier design has led to the commercialisation of the worlds first multimode EDFA.

Celebrating the achievements of ORC students

Student success


The University of Southamptons international team had extra support at this years Top Universities Scholarship Fair in Singapore in the shape of 3rd Year PhD student Nicholas Wong from the ORC, who was on vacation back home in Singapore at the time.

Nicholas joined the team of ambassadors from the university with the aim of creating greater awareness of the ORCs work and its graduate programmes. He explained, Not many Singaporeans consider a career in photonics, and I thought it would be prudent to address this by showcasing our centre given its world-class status in the field, in the hopes of attracting even more talented students.

During the show, Nicholas demonstrated chromatically-dependent interference using a diffraction grating and laser pointers of different colours.

Held at the Suntec Singapore Convention & Exhibition Centre on 19 July and published by The Straits Times Recruit, the Top Universities and Scholarships Fair 2015 saw thousands of prospective undergraduate and graduate students and their families seeking to explore educational possibilities.

Second year Optoelectronics Research Centre (ORC) student Callum Smith, a member of the Advanced Solid State Sources group, fought off competition from his colleagues to win first place in the ORCs annual Second Year Talks competition.

The competition has become a tradition within the ORC. Dr Francesca Parmigiani, co-organiser with Dr Collin Sones, explained: The talks allow students to hone their technical presentation skills in front of an audience of their peers. This gives them practice for presenting at conferences or similar events and is great for building their confidence.

PhD student Callum won for his talk, Nuclear Energy Power source of the Future? Callum said: The second year talks are a great event, allowing students to develop communication and presentations skills, which are extremely important for presenting research at conferences. The broad range of topics were exciting, and all of the talks were very interesting. I am very pleased to have won!

ORC PhD student becomes ambassador for photonics

Second year student goes nuclear for competition

Celebrating the achievements of ORC students

Drs Francesca Parmigiani (L) and Collin Sones (R) present Callum Smith with his award.

Fountain of Wealth, Suntec City, Singapore


Blue Sky Thinking

Light Times speaks with Professor Nikolay Zheludev, Deputy Director of the Optoelectronics Research Centre (ORC), about his role and how he became interested in nanophotonics and metamaterials.

Q You started as a Lecturer at the University of Southampton in 1991 and since then you have risen to become Deputy Director of the ORC. What attracted you to Southampton in the first place and what has kept you here?

I was working at the world-leading International Laser Centre research group at the Moscow State University, but the Soviet Union as a country was collapsing. I came to the UK in 1986-7 on an exchange sabbatical visit with Strathclyde University in Glasgow. As part of the sabbatical I travelled around the UK visiting a number of laboratories including the University of Southampton. Here I met the former Deputy Director of the ORC Professor David Hanna and his colleagues. They showed me their work into the first fibre lasers and fibre amplifiers which at that stage was a great novelty and later led to numerous awards and recognition for the ORC. David invited me to apply for the post of Lecturer at Southampton and it was a very attractive opportunity. Even then Southampton was known, and had a good

reputation, as a centre for photonics research. Seven years ago, when David retired, there was growing recognition that the ORC needed to embrace new technologies - particularly the emerging technologies of nanophotonics, metamaterials and plasmonics. I already had a substantial grant for research into nanophotonics, so I was invited to move my research group and become Deputy Director of the ORC.

Q Over your career you have received many significant accolades and recognition for your work in the fields of nanophotonics and metamaterials including receiving the Royal Society Wolfson Research Merit Award and the Senior Leverhulme Research Award. What do you feel are your greatest or most memorable achievements?

I dont feel I can answer that yet as I dont think that I have finished my research career. I hope my most important achievements are still to come. However, I do see myself as one of the founding members of the discipline of

nanophotonics and metamaterials, along with other people. I think without our contribution the field of nanophotonics and metamaterials wouldnt be as it is today.

Q You recently became Director of the Centre for Disruptive Photonics Technologies (CDPT) at the new Photonics Institute in Singapore. What factors will impact the new Centres success?

The future of research is its internationalisation. Considerable improvements in telecommunications and the affordability of international travel have expanded the domain in which scientists can work. Science is becoming more and more expensive so to share and bear the cost between institutions is a very important factor. Full international collaboration brings substantial visibility and increases the attention on papers. Our work in the CDPT is a great example of this. The CDPT is like a sister centre to the Centre for Photonic Metamaterials here in Southampton. There


is a great exchange of ideas, people and technological facilities to help our work in both Centres. Many people who worked or studied here now have key positions at the CDPT, while many people from the CDPT now work in Southampton. A good example of how this collaboration works was the recent publication of a paper into new plasmonic materials. This was fully characterised in Southampton but was actually grown as a substance in Singapore.

Q How has your research impacted on and changed the way we live our life today?My research activities are mainly on the Blue Sky end of the spectrum in that my main objective is knowledge creation rather than the implementation of this knowledge into consumer devices and workable technologies. However I think we make an indirect impact on the quality of life in various forms. For example we train extremely capable, well-prepared people to propagate new technologies and we also create a well-

educated and highly capable research nation that attracts investment. I believe that there is a substantial role in any society for developmental research and Blue Sky studies.

Q You have recently secured a multimillion pound EPSRC grant for research into the physics and technology of Photonic Metadevices and Metasystems. Can you tell us more about this?

The research funded by our new EPSRC grant will look at bringing metamaterials technology to direct applications. We will focus on the application of metamaterials in optical telecommunication technologies, which is one of the most important societal problems today. One major challenge is how to increase the capability of communication networks in particular the bandwidth and energy consumption associated with Internet and computer usage. Our programme will essentially explore the proof of concept and proof of ideas in the use of metamaterials in various data processing telecommunication applications.

Q What do you perceive as being the next great challenges in your key research areas?In my view the next big thing in metamaterials may be formulated optical materials with properties on demand. ORC Director Professor Sir David Payne said: In photonics we have never had the materials we have wanted. This is a very true statement. Progress in photonics is very much underpinned by progress in material science. We have a situation now where we can develop metamaterials where the optical properties may be commanded at will with electrical and magnetic signals. We can see various ways of providing materials property on demand, at any given point of space and at any given moment of time, so essentially we can create reconfigured electromagnetic space. The outlook for this will be 10 or 15 or maybe even 20 years but we are now seeing the underpinning idea for technology which will make this possible. This work will completely rewrite photonics as we know it and will revolutionise all technologies that use light and light-enabling technologies.


An innovative partnership between researchers in the UK and Singapore saw the launch last year of a pioneering new centre of photonics: The Photonics Institute (TPI).

Based at the Nanyang Technological University (NTU) in Singapore, TPI is the largest institute in the world dedicated to the study and development of light technologies. A total of 120 scientists and staff are collaborating in five research centres focusing light technologies.

ORC Deputy Director Professor Nikolay Zheludev is Director of the Centre for Disruptive Photonic Technologies (CDPT), an interdisciplinary centre of research focused on developing innovative new light enabled solutions for telecoms, energy, light generation, imaging, lithography, data storage, sensing, medicine, security and defence applications among others. Here he shares the ground-breaking collaborative research that is being carried out by CDPT scientists in the UK and Singapore.

Creating a cloaking deviceA cloak that can hide living creatures from sight is a common feature of mythology but still remains unrealised as a practical device. However, new research at the CDPT has successfully demonstrated the cloaking of living creatures including a cat and a fish. Previous cloaking solutions required the transformation of the electromagnetic space around the hidden object in such a way that the rays bending around the object have to

travel faster than those passing it by known as phase preservation. The CDPT research proposes a simplified version that abolishes the need for phase preservation and allows cloak designs on large scales using commonly available materials.

Identifying a new class of semiconductor materialsThe development of metamaterials, data processing circuits and sensors for the visible and ultraviolet parts of the spectrum is hampered by the lack of low-loss media supporting plasmonic excitations. This has driven an intense search for plasmonic materials beyond noble metals. Research by the CDPT has discovered a semiconductor (BSTS) that is also a good plasmonic material in the blue-ultraviolet range and the terahertz frequency range. The findings have identified a new class of materials with high-frequency plasmonic response where plasmonic functionality can be directly integrated with electronics thanks to the semiconductor nature of the material.

Catching up with the human brainThe modern information society is enabled by photonic fibre networks characterised by huge coverage and great complexity that range in size from transcontinental cables to fibre to the home. This worldwide network has yet to match the complexity of the human brain, which contains a hundred billion

neurons each with an average of thousands of synaptic connections, however, it already exceeds the brains of primitive organisms such as the honey bee. Research at the CDPT has revealed the computing potential of optical networks as information carriers. Using a simple fibre network their research provides a proof-of-principle demonstration that this network can be treated as an optical oracle, and explores secure communication applications for the optical oracle and proposes its possible implantation in silicon photonics and plasmonic networks. See our feature on page 4.

Bringing absorption down to single protonsResearch by the CDPT has revealed a better understanding of the coherent absorption process of single protons that is of central importance for light harvesting, detection, sensing and photonic data processing. The technologies of heating, photovoltaics, water photocatalysis and artificial photosynthesis depend on the absorption of light and novel approaches such as coherent absorption from a standing wave promise total dissipation of energy. Research on extending the control of absorption down to very low light levels and eventually to the single photon regime is of great interest but is as yet largely unexplored. New CDPT research shows the coherent absorption of single photons in a deeply subwavelength absorber.

Developing ground-breaking applications of light-enabled technologiesPhotonics research tackles the big societal challenges.


Research at the CDPT is conducted in collaboration with European, USA, Australian and Far Eastern partners.


Latest developments - people places events

An Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) grant to Professor Graham Reed in the Optoelectronics Research Centre has been awarded for the installation of a photolithographic scanner and associated equipment in the cleanrooms at the University of Southampton.

This investment will bridge the gap between the Universitys existing conventional photolithography and E-beam tools, increasing the capability and capacity of its research infrastructure by allowing high-speed patterning of full 8 silicon wafers with approximately 200nm feature size.

The grant will cover research and capability development activities in addition to the capital and buildings costs. The initiative will see several laboratories repurposed to make more efficient use of space and it is expected to result in greater throughput in the Nano cleanrooms.

Professor Graham Reed said: Im delighted that EPSRC supported our vision for Silicon Photonics in the UK. However, it also means that a host of other technologies can benefit from the increased capability of the Southampton cleanroom complex. Our application to EPSRC was supported by 38 research groups across the University as well as Silicon Photonics partners from the UK and beyond. We eagerly look forward to the equipment being commissioned.

News in brief

Royal Mail has launched of an Inventive Britain Special Stamp set, marking a long and rich history of Britain as an inventive nation.

The stamps depict striking photographs and computer-generated interpretations of inventions created by British inventors over the last century, among them fibre optics.

Matt Posner, Outreach Director for the ORC said: Its a great initiative from Royal Mail to raise awareness of the important technologies that are forming the current era of communication. Obviously, it comes at a timely moment to celebrate the International Year of Light and raise awareness of the importance of light-based technologies.

Royal Mail Inventive Britain stamps include fibre optics

Cleanroom investment increases capability and capacity of research infrastructure



International collaboration receives Charles Kao AwardORC researchers working in collaboration with Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) and others, have been awarded the new and prestigious Charles Kao Award for Best Optical Communications & Networking Paper by the IEEE Communications Society.

Given in recognition of the research paper Single-Laser 32.5 Tbit/s Nyquist WDM Transmission, published in OSA/IEEE Journal, Optical Communications & Networking. The Charles Kao Award was established by the IEEE Communications Society this year and will be presented annually.

The new award, in honour of Nobel Prize winner and fibre optics pioneer, Charles Kao, is presented to authors of the paper judged to have most successfully opened new lines of research, envisioned bold approaches to optical communication and networking, formulated new problems to solve, and essentially enlarged the field of optical communications and networking.

Dr Francesca Parmigiani, who received the award on behalf of the collaboration said, The Charles Kao Award is a great accolade. Its been a highly successful collaboration resulting in this award that credits our joint work and I am proud that the ORCs input has been recognised in this way.

Learn more at www.orc.southampton.ac.uk.

Dr Francesca Parmigiani is presented with the Charles Kao Award at IEEE ICC 2015

Next-generation fibres developed at the ORC have enabled a plethora of new applications in the last decade: from high-power lasers and laser delivery, to high bandwidth communications, and visible and infrared sensing. They are now available for sampling and purchase through an exclusive new service.

These fibres are the basis of the ORCs prestigious publication record and Southampton has long been the research fibre partner of choice in European consortia. In addition to preparing to participate in Horizon 2020, the ORC is now granting the wider community access to this unique resource. The service will enable the evaluation of ORC fibres in products and research programmes at the earliest stages of development, helping to accelerate performance, adoption and commercialisation of optical fibre and photonics-based products.

If someone wants to get hold of a fibre that was used in a particular ORC research publication, they can now do this, said Professor Jayanta Sahu, Head of Fibre Fabrication at the ORC.

Engineers will now be able to demonstrate the impact of that next-generation fibre on their system performance and can develop experience of working with these new fibres in order to build a commercial case for custom next-generation fibre design. We anticipate supply of these fibres will facilitate further industrial collaborations to optimise fibres for an individual application.

Find out more at www.zeplerinstitute.com/fibre

Next-generation optical fibre now available to purchase



Professor Sir Christopher Snowden appointed as the next Vice-Chancellor of the University of Southampton

News in brief

Professor Sir Christopher Snowden will become the University of Southamptons tenth Vice-Chancellor when he takes up the post in October.

Professor Snowden, who is the current President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Surrey and President of Universities UK, will succeed Professor Don Nutbeam who announced last year that he would be retiring as Vice-Chancellor.

Professor Snowdens appointment followed an exhaustive search and rigorous selection process with interest from a range of extremely talented, diverse and experienced candidates from higher education and other sectors, both national and international.

Professor Snowden is a distinguished engineer with wide international experience of leadership in academia and industry. He joined the University of Surrey in 2005 as President and Vice-Chancellor and was knighted in the 2012 New Years Honours for services to higher education and engineering.

He is Chair of the Queen Elizabeth II Prize Committee and sits on the governing body of InnovateUK.

Professor Sir David Payne, ORC Director said: As a leading research institute with a track record of inventions in photonics going back decades, the ORC is delighted at this inspired choice for our next Vice-Chancellor. Chris Snowden is an authority in microwave and optoelectronic devices, with a distinguished research career that often intersected with the ORC, so we are looking forward to getting him into the labs during breaks in his administrative duties!

Pioneering Southampton scientist awarded prestigious physics medal

Professor Nikolay Zheludev has been awarded the Young Medal for 2015 by the Institute of Physics. The award recognises his global leadership and pioneering, seminal work in optical metamaterials and nanophotonics.

Originally established in 1907 and now made biennially, the Young Medal recognises distinguished research in optics and is named after British physicist and polymath Thomas Young who established the wave theory of light in the early 19th century. In the past, this medal has been awarded 27 times to distinguished scientists internationally, including Nobel Prize winners Charles Townes, Arthur Schawlow, Dennis Gabor and Claude Cohen-Tannoudji.

Professor Zheludev, the first recipient of the Young Medal from the University of Southampton, will be formally honoured at a ceremony in November.



ChAMP Partnership Day breaks attendance records

The Chalcogenide Advanced Manufacturing Partnership (ChAMP) Open Day drew record breaking audience numbers for an industry day at the University of Southampton.

Marking the launch of the EPSRC funded project to advance the manufacture of Chalcogenide glasses and demonstrate their applications, the event, held in March, combined the Advance

Manufacturing conference with the first Photonex Southampton exhibition, bringing 231 delegates to Highfield campus.

The audience, which included over 100 representatives from across UK industry, heard talks from the work package leaders at Southampton, Heriot-Watt, Exeter, Oxford and Cambridge Universities.

Research fellow, Dr Jun-Yu Ou, at the University of Southampton, has won the IOPs 2015 QEP (Quantum Electronics and Photonics) Doctoral Research Prize for his work on Reconfigurable Photonic Metamaterials.

Under the supervision of Professor Nikolay Zheludev and Dr Eric Plum at the Optoelectronics Research Centre and Centre for Photonic Metamaterials, Bruce has been is recognised for his experimental research that has established a new research direction of growing international importance: Reconfigurable photonic metamaterials.

Dr Eric Plum explains: By bringing together advanced nanofabrication, nano-mechanics and photonics, Jun Yu has demonstrated the first practical solutions for dynamic control of metamaterial optical properties with high contrast and speed using electrical signals, thermal inputs and even light itself a true technological breakthrough.

Jun-Yus research has been published in 24 journal articles and his work is at the heart of a new 5M EPSRC programme grant.

ORC researcher awarded IOP Doctoral Research Prize


This entirely new way of making fibre could pave the way for more complex structures capable of unlocking a host of applications in a wide range of industries, from biotechnology to aerospace and telecommunications.

Current techniques used to produce optical fibre preforms - the piece of glass from which an optical fibre is drawn - give a consistent structure along the length of the preform but make it difficult to control the shape and composition of the fibre in 3D. This limits the degree of flexibility that engineers can exercise in the design of the fibre and as a consequence, the capabilities that the fibres can offer.

The new technique, being developed by the ORCs Professor Jayanta Sahu, together with his colleagues from the University of Southamptons Zepler Institute and co-investigator Dr Shoufeng Yang from the Faculty of Engineering and Environment, will allow engineers to manufacture preforms with far more complex structures and different features along their lengths.

We will design, fabricate and employ novel Multiple Materials Additive Manufacturing (MMAM) equipment to enable us to make optical fibre preforms (both in conventional and microstructured fibre geometries) in silica and other host glass materials, says Professor Sahu. Our proposed process can be utilised to produce complex preforms,

which are otherwise too difficult, too time-consuming or currently impossible to be achieved by existing fabrication techniques.

The making of the preform is one of the most challenging stages of optical fibre manufacturing, especially when the preform has a complex internal structure, such as in photonic bandgap fibre - a new type of microstructured fibre, which is hotly anticipated to revolutionise the telecoms and datacoms industries in particular.

Currently, most microstructured fibres are made using the labour intensive stack and draw process which involves stacking several smaller glass capillaries or canes together by hand to form the preform. However, using

Researchers to test new optical fibre 3D printing technique

Researchers at the Optoelectronics Research Centre (ORC) are set to investigate using 3D printing, or additive manufacturing, techniques in the fabrication of optical fibre.


the new additive manufacturing technique, the researchers will be able to form complex fibre structures from ultra-pure glass powder, layer-by-layer, gradually building up the shape to create a preform several tens of centimetres in lengths.

There are numerous challenges including the high melting temperature of the glass (over 2000C in case of silica); the need for precise control of dopants, refractive index profiles and waveguide geometry; and the need for transitions between the layers to be smooth, otherwise the properties of the resultant fibre will be altered.

As part of the project, funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research

Council (EPSRC), the researchers will be working with three companies: ES Technology (Oxford, UK), a provider of laser material processing systems; Fibercore (Southampton, UK) a supplier of specialty fibre; and SG Controls (Cambridge UK) a leading manufacturer of optical fibre equipment.

We hope our work will open up a route to manufacture novel fibre structures in silica and other glasses for a wide range of applications, covering telecommunications, sensing, lab-in-a-fibre, metamaterial fibre, and high-power lasers, says Professor Sahu. This is something that has never been tried before and we are excited about starting this project.

Painstaking work: microstructured optical fibres such as these could be fabricated using additive manufacturing techniques in the future.


Journal papers published from January 2015- July 2015

The ORC has a spectacular history of innovation - our researchers publish about 200 journal papers per year and enjoy tremendous academic success Professor David Payne

Amorphous metal-sulphide microfibers enable photonic synapses for brain-like computing B.Gholipour, P.Bastock, C.Craig, K.Khan, D.Hewak, C.Soci Advanced Optical Materials 2015 Vol.3(5) pp. 635-641

Electrically controlled nanostructured metasurface loaded with liquid crystal: toward multifunctional photonic switch O.Buchnev, N.Podoliak, M.Kaczmarek, N.I.Zheludev, V.A.Fedotov Advanced Optical Materials 2015 Vol.3(5) pp.674-679

Squeezing red blood cells on an optical waveguide to monitor cell deformability during blood storage B.S.Ahluwalia, P.McCourt, A.Oteiza, J.S.Wilkinson, T.R.Huser, O.G.Helles Analyst 2015 Vol.140(1) pp.223-229

Rapid bespoke laser ablation of variable period grating structures using a digital micromirror device for multi-colored surface images D.J.Heath, B.Mills, M.Feinagle, R.W.Eason Applied Optics 2015 Vol.54(16) 4984-4988

Strain engineering in graphene by laser irradiation N.Papasimakis, S.Mailis, C.C.Huang, F.Al-Saab, D.W.Hewak, Z.Luo, Z.X.Shen Applied Physics Letters 2015 Vol.106 pp.061904

Generation of electromagnetic waves from 0.3 to 1.6 Terahertz with a high-Tc superconducting Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8+ intrinsic Josephson junction emitter T.Kashiwagi, T.Yamamoto, T.Kitamura, K.Asanuma, C.Watanabe, K.Nakade, T.Yasui, Y.Saiwai, Y.Shibano, H.Kubo, K.Sakamoto, T.Katsuragawa, M.Tsujimoto, K.Delfanazari,

R.Yoshizaki, H.Minami, R.A.Klemm, K.Kadowaki Applied Physics Letters 2015 Vol.106 Art. No. 092601

Chiral mirrors E.Plum, N.I.Zheludev Applied Physics Letters 2015 Vol.106 pp.1-6

Reconfiguring photonic metamaterials with currents and magnetic fields J.Valente, J.Y.Ou, E.Plum, I.J.Youngs, N.I.Zheludev Applied Physics Letters 2015 Vol.106(11) Art.No.111905

Giant birefringence and dichroism induced by ultrafast laser pulses in hydrogenated amorphous silicon R.Drevinskas, M.Beresna, M.Gecevicius, M.Khenkin, A.G.Kazanskii, I.Matulaitiene, G.Niaura, O.I.Konkov, E.I.Terukov, Y.P.Svirko Applied Physics Letters 2015 Vol.106(17) pp.171106

Lead-silicate glass optical microbubble resonator P.Wang, J.Ward, Y.Yang, X.Feng, G.Brambilla, G.Farrell, S.N.Chormaic Applied Physics Letters 2015 Vol.106(6) Art.No.061101

Harmonic generation via (3) processes in microfibers M.I.M.Abdul Khudus, T.Lee, T.Huang, X.Shao, S.P.Perry, G.Brambilla Fiber and Integrated Optics 2015 pp.1-20

Subwavelength line imaging using plasmonic waveguides N.P.Podoliak, P.Horak, J.C.Prangsma, P.W.H.Pinkse IEEE Journal of Quantum Electronics 2015 Vol.51(2) pp.7200114

Design and fabrication of suspended indium phosphide waveguides for MEMS-actuated optical buffering W.H.Ng, N.Podoliak, P.Horak, J.Wu, H.Liu, W.J.Stewart, A.J.Kenyon IEEE Journal of Selected Topics in Quantum Electronics 2015 Vol.21(4) pp.4400107

Ge-on-Si plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition for low cost photodetectors C.G.Littlejohns, A.Z.Khokhar, D.J.Thomson, Y.Hu, L. Basset, S.A.Reynolds, G.Z.Mashanovich, G.T.Reed, F.Y.Gardes IEEE Photonics Journal 2015 Vol.1-8

Suspended ring-core photonic crystal fiber gas sensor with high sensitivity and fast response S.H.Kassani, R.Khazaeinezhad, Y.Jung, J.Kobelke, K.Oh IEEE Photonics Journal 2015 Vol.7(1) pp.2700409

Compact optical comb generator using InP tuneable laser and push-pull modulator R.Slavk, S.G.Farwell, M.J.Wale, D.J.Richardson IEEE Photonics Technology Letters 2015 Vol.27(2) pp.217-220

Cladding-pumped Er/Yb-doped multi-element fiber amplifier for wideband applications S.Jain, N.K.Thipparapu, P.Barua, J.K.Sahu IEEE Photonics Technology Letters 2015 Vol.27(4) pp.356-358

Graphene Q-switched mode-locked and Q-switched ion-exchanged waveguide lasers A.Choudhary, S.Dhingra, B.DUrso, K.Pradeesh, D.P.Shepherd IEEE Photonics Technology Letters 2015 Vol.27(6) pp.646


Demonstration of space-to-wavelength conversion in SDM networks V.J.F.Rancao, S.Jain, T.C.May-Smith, E.Hugues-Salas, S.Yan, G.Zervas, D.Simeonidou, P.Petropoulos, D.J.Richardson IEEE Photonics Technology Letters 2015 Vol.27(8) pp.828-831

Effect of bias electrode position on terahertz radiation from pentagonal mesas of superconducting Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8+ K.Delfanazari, H.Asai, M.Tsujimoto, T.Kashiwagi, T.Kitamura, T.Yamamoto, W.Wilson, R.A.Klemm, T.Hattori, K.Kadowaki IEEE Transactions: THz Science and Technology 2015 Vol.5(3) pp.505-511

Homodyne OFDM with Optical Injection Locking for Carrier Recovery Z.Lui, J.Kim, D.S.Wu, D.J.Richardson, R.Slavk IEEE/OSA Journal of Lightwave Technology 2015 Vol.33(1) pp.34-14

Low birefringence measurement and temperature dependence in metre-long optical fibers M.Segura, N.Vukovic, N.White, T.C.May-Smith, W.H.Loh, F.Poletti, M.N.Zervas Journal of Lightwave Technology 2015 Vol.33(12) pp.1-6

Polarization-assisted phase-sensitive processor F.Parmigiani, G.Hesketh, R.Slavk, P.Horak, P.Petropoulos, D.J.Richardson Journal of Lightwave Technology 2015 Vol.33(6) pp.1166-1174 (Invited)

High-capacity directly-modulated optical transmitter for 2m spectral region Z.Liu, Yong Chen, Z.Li, B.Kelly, R.Phelan, J.OCarroll, T.Bradley, J.P.Wooler, N.V.Wheeler, A.M.Heidt, T.Richter, C.Schubert, M.Becker, F.Poletti, M.N.Petrovich, S-U.Alam, D.J.Richardson, R.Slavk Journal of Lightwave Technology 2015 Vol.33(7) pp.1373-1379

41.6 Tbit/s C-band SDM OFDM transmission through 12 spatial and polarization modes over 74.17km few mode fiber Y.Chen, A.Lobato, Y.Jung, H.Chen, V.A.J.M.Sleiffer, M.Kuschnerov, N.K.Fontaine, R.Ryf, D.J.Richardson, B.Lankl, N.Hanik Journal of Lightwave Technology 2015 Vol.33(7) pp.1440-1444 (Invited)

Archon: A function programmable optical interconnect architecture for transparent intra and inter data center SDM/TDM/WDM networking S.Yan, E.Hugues-Salas, V.J.F.Rancao, Y.Shu, G.M.Saridis, B.R.Rofoee, Y.Yan, A.Peters, S.Jain, T.C.May-Smith, P.Petropoulos, D.J.Richardson, G.Zervas, D.Simeonidou Journal of Lightwave Technology 2015 Vol.33(8) pp.1586-1595

Fabrication of Y-Splitters and Mach-Zehnder interferometers on (Yb,Nb):RbTiOPO4/ RbTiOPO4 epitaxial layers by Reactive Ion Etching M.A.Butt, R.Sol, M.C.Pujol, A.Rdenas, G.Lifante, A.Choudhary, G.S.Murugan, D.P.Shepherd, J.S.Wilkinson, M.Aguil, F.Daz Journal of Lightwave Technology 2015 Vol.33(9) pp.1863-1871

Effect of Laser Wavelength on Structure and Photoelectric Properties of a-Si: H Films Crystallized by Femtosecond Laser Pulses M.V. Khenkin, D.V.Amasev, A.O.Dudnik, A.V.Emelyanov, P.A.Forsh, A.G.Kazanskii, R.Drevinskas, M.Beresna, P.G.Kazansky Journal of Nanoelectronics and Optoelectronics 2015 Vol.9(6) pp.728-733

EXAFS studies of the local structures of bismuth centers in multicomponent silica glass based optical fiber preforms S.Torrengo, M.C.Paul, A.Halder, S.Das, A.Dhar, J.K.Sahu, S.Jain, A.V.Kiryanov, F.dAcapito Journal of Non-Crystalline Solids 2015 Vol.410 pp.82-87

Towards extremely sensitive ultraviolet-light sensors employing photochromic optical microfiber G.Y.Chen, Z.Wang Journal of Sensors 2015 Vol.2015 Art. No. 586318 (Invited)

Wavevector selective metasurfaces and tunnel vision filters V.A.Fedotov, N.Papasimakis, N.I.Zheludev, J.Wallauer, M.Walther, M.Perino Light: Science & Applications 2015 Vol.1-6

Wavevector selective metasurfaces and tunnel vision filters V.A.Fedotov, N.Papsimakis, N.I.Zheludev, J.Wallauer, M.Walther, M.Perino Light: Science & Applications 2015 Vol.1-6

Controlling light with light using coherent meta-devices: all-optical transistor, summator and invertor X.Fang, K.F.McDonald, N.I.Zheludev Light: Science and Applications 2015 Vol.4 pp.e292


Single-Fluxon Controlled Resistance Switching in CentimeterLong Superconducting Gallium-Indium Eutectic Nanowires W.Zhao, J.L.Bischof, J.Hutasoit, X.Liu, T.C.Fitzgibbons, J.R.Hayes, P.J.A.Sazio, C.Liu, J.K.Jain, J.V.Badding, M.H.W.Chan Nano Letters 2015 Vol.15 pp.153-158

Inspired by competition E.Plum, W.Stein Nanotechnology at school

Coherent perfect absorption in deeply subwavelength films in the single-photon regime T.Roger, S.Vezzoli, E.Bolduc, J.Valente, J.J.F.Heitz, J.Jeffers, C.Soci, J.Leach, C.Couteau, N.I.Zheludev, D.Faccio Nature Communications 2015 Vol.6 Art. No.7031

A magneto-electro-optical effect in a plasmonic nanowire material J.Valente, Jun-Yu Ou, E.Plum, I.J.Youngs, N.I.Zheludev Nature Communications 2015 Vol.6 Article number: 7021

High-speed detection at two micrometres with monolithic silicon photodiodes J.J.Ackert, D.J.Thomson, L.Shen, A.C.Peacock, P.E.Jessop, G.T.Reed, G.Z.Mashanovich, A.P.Knights Nature Photonics 2015 Vol.9(6) pp.393-396

Optical Fourier synthesis of high-repetition-rate pulses D.S.Wu, D.J.Richardson, R.Slavk Optica 2015 Vol.2(1) pp.18-26

Tailoring the 4I9/2 4I13/2 emission in Er3+ ions in different hosts media C.Koughia, C.Craig, D.W.Hewak, S.Kasap Optical Materials 2015 Vol.41 pp.116-121

Dynamic spatial pulse shaping via a digital micromirror device for patterned laser-induced forward transfer of solid polymer films D.J.Heath, M.Feinugle, J.Grant-Jacob, B.Mills, R.W.Eason Optical Materials Express 2015 Vol.5(5) pp.1129-1136

Concentration dependence of energy transfer upconversion in Nd:YAG S.J.Yoon, R.P.Yan, S.J.Beecher, J.I.Mackenzie Optical Materials Express 2015 Vol.5(5) pp.926-931

Phase regeneration of an M-PSK signal using partial regeneration of its M/2-PSK second phase harmonic L.Jones, F.Parmigiani, P.Petropoulos, D.J.Richardson Optics Communications 2015 Vol.334(1) pp.35-40

10 Gb/s 5 V-pp AND 5.6 V-pp drivers implemented together with a monolithically integrated silicon modulator in 0.25 m SiGe:C BiCMOS B.Goll, D.J.Thomson, L.Zimmermann, H.Porte, F.Y.Gardes, Y.Hu, G.T.Reed, H.Zimmermann Optics Communications 2015 Vol.336 pp.224-234

MicroStructure Element Method (MSEM): viscous flow model for the virtual draw of microstructured optical fibers G.T.Jasion, J.S.Shrimpton, Yong Chen, T.Bradley, D.J.Richardson, F.Poletti Optics Express 2015 Vol.23(1) pp.312-329

Ultra-broadband wavelength-swept Tm-doped fiber laser using wavelength-combined gain stages M.Tokurakawa, J.M.O.Daniel, C.S.Chenug, H.Liang, W.A.Clarkson Optics Express 2015 Vol.23(1) pp.471-476

High-energy, near- and mid-IR picosecond pulses generated by a fiber-MOPA-pumped optical parametric generator and amplifier L.Xu, H.-Y.Chan, S.Alam, D.J.Richardson, D.P.Shepherd Optics Express 2015 Vol.23(10) pp.12613-12618

Transmittance and surface intensity in 3D composite plasmonic waveguides A.Karabchevsky, J.S.Wilkinson, M.N.Zervas Optics Express 2015 Vol.23(11) pp.14407-14423

Kerr nonlinear switching in a hybrid silica-silicon microspherical resonator F.H.Suhailin, N.Healy, Y.Franz, M.Sumetsky, J.Ballato, A.N.Dibbs, U.J.Gibson, A.C.Peacock Optics Express 2015 Vol.23(13) pp.17263-17268

Nanoscale roughness micromilled silica evanescent refractometer L.G.Carpenter, P.A.Cooper, C.Holmes, C.B.E.Gawith, J.C.Gates, P.G.R.Smith Optics Express 2015 Vol.23(2) pp.1005-1014

Anti-resonant hexagram hollow core fibers J.R.Hayes, F.Poletti, Mousavi S.A., N.V.Wheeler, N.K.Baddela, D.J.Richardson Optics Express 2015 Vol.23(2) pp.1289

Tailored surface birefringence by femtosecond laser assisted wet etching R.Drevinskas, M.Gecevicius, M.Beresna, Y.Bellouard, P.G.Kazansky Optics Express 2015 Vol.23(2) pp.1428-1437

High resolution Fourier domain optical coherence tomography in the 2 m wavelength range using a broadband supercontinuum source C.S.Cheung, J.M.O.Daniel, M.Tokurakawa, W.A.Clarkson, H.Liang Optics Express 2015 Vol.23(3) pp.1992-2001

Inverse scattering designs of dispersion-engineered planar waveguides A.R.May, F.Poletti, M.N.Zervas Optics Express 2015 Vol.23(3) pp.3142-3155

100 Gbit/s WDM transmission at 2 m: transmission studies in both low-loss hollow core photonic bandgap fiber and solid core fiber H.Zhang, N.Kavanagh, Z.Li, J.Zhao, N.Ye, Yong Chen, N.V.Wheeler, J.P.Wooler, J.R.Hayes, S.R.Sandoghchi, F.Poletti, M.N.Petrovich, S.U.Alam, R.Phelan, J.OCarroll, B.Kelly, L.Grner-Nielsen, D.J.Richardson, B.Corbett, F.C.Garcia Gunning Optics Express 2015 Vol.23(4) pp.4946-4951

Optimization of phase modulation with arbitrary waveform generators for optical spectral control and suppression of stimulated Brillouin scattering A.V.Harish, J.Nilsson Optics Express 2015 Vol.23(6) pp.6988


Demonstration of ultra-low NA rare-earth doped step index fiber for applications in high power fiber lasers D.Jain, Y.Jung, P.Barua, S.Alam, J.K.Sahu Optics Express 2015 Vol.23(6) pp.7407-7415

Accurate calibration of S2 and interferometry based multimode fiber characterization techniques D.R.Gray, S.R.Sandoghchi, N.V.Wheeler, N.Baddela, G.T.Jasion, M.N.Petrovich, F.Poletti, D.J.Richardson Optics Express 2015 Vol.23(8) pp.10540-10552

Picosecond optically reconfigurable filters exploiting full free spectral range tuning of single ring and Vernier effect resonators R.Bruck, B.Mills, D.J.Thomson, B.Troia, V.M.N.Passaro, G.Z.Mashanovich, G.T.Reed, O.L.Muskens Optics Express 2015 Vol.23(9) pp.12468-12477

Two-photon absorption and all-optical modulation in germanium-on-silicon waveguides for the mid-infrared Li Shen, N.Healy, C.J.Mitchell, J.Soler Penades, M.Nedeljkovic, G.Z.Mashanovich, A.C.Peacock Optics Letters 2015 Vol.40(10) pp.2213-2216

Mid-infrared supercontinuum generation in suspended core tellurite microstructured optical fibers M.Belal, L.Xu, P.Horak, L.Shen, X.Feng, M.Ettabib, D.J.Richardson, P.Petropoulos, J.H.V.Price Optics Letters 2015 Vol.40(10) pp.2237-2240

1120nm diode-pumped Bi-doped fiber amplifier N.K.Thipparapu, S.Jain, A.A.Umnikov, P.Barua, J.K.Sahu Optics Letters 2015 Vol.40(10) pp.2441-2444

Waveguide lasers in ytterbium-doped tantalum pentoxide on silicon A.Aghajani, G.S.Murugan, N.P.Sessions, V.Apostolopoulos, J.S.Wilkinson Optics Letters 2015 Vol.40(11) pp.2549-2552

Fiber-laser-pumped, high-energy, mid-IR, picosecond optical parametric oscillator with a high-harmonic cavity L.Xu, H-Y.Chan, S.U.Alam, et al. Optics Letters 2015 Vol.40(14) pp.3288-3291

Mid-infrared all-optical modulation in low-loss germanium-on-silicon waveguides L.Shen, N.Healy, C.J.Mitchell, J.Soler Penades, M.Nedeljkovic, G.Z.Mashanovich, A.C.Peacock Optics Letters 2015 Vol.40(2) pp.268-271

12-mode OFDM transmission using reduced-complexity maximum likelihood detection A.Lobato, Y.Chen, Y.Jung, H.Chen, B.Inan, M.Kuschnerov, N.K.Fontaine, R.Ryf, B.Spinnler, B.Linkl Optics Letters 2015 Vol.40(3) pp.328-331

Polarization-dependent transverse mode selection in an Yb-doped fiber laser Di Lin, W.A.Clarkson Optics Letters 2015 Vol.40(4) pp.498-501

Tunable Q-factor silicon microring resonators for ultra-low power parametric processes M.J.Strain, C.Lacava, L.Meriggi, I.Cristiani, M.Sorel Optics Letters 2015 Vol.40(7) pp.1274-1277

Effect of intrinsic surface roughness on the efficiency of intermodal phase matching in silica optical nanofibers M.I.M.Abdul Khudus, T.Lee, P.Horak, G.Brambilla Optics Letters 2015 Vol.40(7) pp.1318-1321

456 mW graphene Q-switched Yb:yttria waveguide laser by evanescent-field interaction A.Choudhary, S.J.Beecher, S.Dhingra, B.DUrso, T.L.Parsonage, J.A.Grant-Jacob, P.Hua, J.I.Mackenzie, R.W.Eason, D.P.Shepherd Optics Letters 2015 Vol.40(9) pp.1912-1915

Fabrication and characterization of high-contrast mid-infrared GeTe4 channel waveguides V.Mittal, A.Aghajani, L.G.Carpenter, J.C.Gates, J.Butement, P.G.R.Smith, J.S.Wilkinson, G.S.Murugan Optics Letters 2015 Vol.40(9) pp.2016-2019

Dielectric metamaterials with toroidal dipolar response A.Basharin, M.Kafesaki, E.N.Economou, C.M.Soukoulis, V.A.Fedotov, V.Savinov, N.I.Zheludev Physics Review X 2015 Vol.5(1) pp.011036

Obtaining optical properties on demand N.I.Zheludev Science 2015 Vol.348 (6238) pp.973-974

Tunable continuous wave emission via phase-matched second harmonic generation in a ZnSe microcylindrical resonator N.Vukovic, N.Healy, J.R.Sparks, J.V.Badding, P.Horak, A.C.Peacock Scientific Reports 2015 Vol.5 Art.No.11798

Next generation device grade silicon-germanium on insulator C.G.Littlejohns, M.Nedeljkovic, C.F.Mallinson, J.F.Watts, G.Z.Mashanovich, G.T.Reed, F.Y.Gardes Scientific Reports 2015 Vol.5 Art.No.8288

Coherent control of optical polarization effects in metamaterials S.A.Mousavi, E.Plum, J.H.Shi, N.I.Zheludev Scientific Reports 2015 Vol.5 Article No.8977

Plasmon coupling in vertical split-ring resonator P.C.Wu, W-L.Hsu, W.T.Chen, Y-W.Huang, C.Y.Liao, A.Q.Liu, N.I.Zheludev, G.Sun, D.P.Tsai Scientific Reports 2015 Vol.5(9726) pp.1-5

The reduction of surface plasmon losses in quasi-suspended graphene A.Dubrovkin, J.Tao, X.C.Yu, N.I.Zheludev, Q.J.Wang Scientific Reports 2015 Vol.5(9837) pp.1-8


Work with us There is a long history of discovery and innovation at the ORC and we are well aware that collaborations with other organisations have been fundamental to our success.

We are always open to new and interesting collaborations where a combination of expertise is mutually beneficial.

If you are part of an academic or industrial research organisation with a national or international reputation, then we would be very interested in hearing from you.

The areas that we are currently working on can be fully explored through the research section of our website. However, we are also interested in exploring new areas, and not all of our most recent directions will have made it onto our website.

If you are interested in joining the vibrant and friendly team at the ORC please contact us at [email protected]

Our world-leading research teams are shaping the future, working with a wide range of industries to develop new technologies for communication, healthcare, transport, energy and the environment.


Visit usOur open days provide the opportunity to find out more about the PhD and MSc programmes and funding, tour our state-of-the-art laboratories and clean rooms and meet some of our vibrant team of research staff and students.www.orc.southampton.ac.uk/visitus.html

Study with us Photonics has helped to change the world in extraordinary ways; powering the internet, navigating airliners, correcting vision and protecting the environment.

Our world-leading research teams are shaping the future, working with a wide range of industries to develop new technologies for communications, healthcare, transport and energy.

We are looking for the photonics pioneers of the future to join our vibrant research community. Our postgraduate students are an integral and vital part of the research staff at the ORC. Some of the worlds leading scientists are based at the ORC and as a PhD student, or as a new MSc student, youll have the opportunity to work with them in our state-of-the-art facilities and make some history.

About the ORC The Optoelectronics Research Centre at the University of Southampton is one of the largest university-based research groups entirely devoted to optoelectronics in the world and has maintained a position at the forefront of photonics research for over four decades.

Its long and well-established track record in the fields of optical fibres, lasers, waveguides, devices and optoelectronic materials has fostered innovation, enterprise, cross-boundary and multi-disciplinary activities.

Please visit our website for more news, technological breakthroughs, research updates and people profiles www.orc.southampton.ac.uk

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Keep in touchMany of our alumni move around a lot and it is difficult to keep a record of where everybody is. If you have recently moved, or are about to, we would be grateful if you could email [email protected] with your new contact details or register online at www.orc.southampton.ac.uk/alumni.html

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