Expertise in Photonics and Electronics For more information, please contact: Helena Arrand UNIMAT Photonics and Electronics IDTC Research Support and Commercialisation Office University Park Nottingham NG7 2RD Tel: +44 (0)115 951 5120 Fax: +44 (0)115 951 5616 E-mail: [email protected] www.nottingham.ac.uk/p-e Contents Introduction Contents ...................................................................................... 3 phenomena; modelling of quantum Introduction.................................................................................. 4 phenomena in electronic and photonic transport; and, nanoscale Biomedical Informatics ................................................................... 5 electronics and optoelectronics. High Power Lasers ......................................................................... 6 In EEE, the Applied Optics Group Materials and Device Characterisation ............................................... 7 (AOG), the George Green Institute for Electromagnetics Research Materials Chemistry ....................................................................... 8 (GGIEMR), and the Photonic and Modelling (1) ................................................................................ 9 RF Engineering Group (PRFEG) are Modelling (2) ...............................................................................10 active in: optical engineering; biomedical imaging; VLSI design; Nanotechnology............................................................................11 The University of Nottingham has the design and characterisation of an international reputation for Nitride Semiconductors..................................................................12 compound semiconductor devices excellence in its research into and materials; the development of Novel Photonic Glasses ..................................................................13 areas of photonics and electronics novel modelling techniques to Optical Engineering .......................................................................14 and has an excellent track record solve complex problems in in working with industry. This Power Electronics..........................................................................15 photonics and electronics. The brochure gives a taste of some of Power Electronics, Machines and RF Circuits and Systems ................................................................16 the exciting and dynamic research Control Group (PEMC) and the Spintronics ..................................................................................17 currently being undertaken. Ultrasonics and Non-destructive VLSI Design.................................................................................18 We have key research groups Evaluation Group (UNDEG), also in based in four Schools: Key Research Groups ....................................................................19 EEE, have substantial research • Physics and Astronomy activities in power electronics and (Physics) ultrasonics, respectively. • Electrical and Electronic Meanwhile, the Advanced Materials Engineering (EEE) Group (AMG) in M3 has, in recent years, developed a well respected • Mechanical, Materials and activity in Novel Photonic Glasses. Manufacturing Engineering (M3) This group is also home to most of • Chemistry the University’s advanced analysis The research groups have a range and characterisation techniques of interests. In Physics, for and their application to many example, the research activities of materials and devices. the Semiconductor Physics Group Finally, the Materials Chemistry (SPG), the Theoretical Physics expertise in Chemistry is used to Group (TPG) and the Nanoscience understand and develop new Group include: the development of materials, which will be used in the novel semiconductor materials; next generation of photonics and fundamental studies of quantum electronics devices. 3 4 Biomedical Informatics High Power Lasers Biomedical Informatics research The Photonic and RF Engineering carried out by the Applied Optics Group (PRFEG), based in the Group (AOG), which is based in School of Electrical and Electronic the School of Electrical and Engineering, works closely with Electronic Engineering (EEE), both industry and other research encompass all aspects of the institutes in the area of high power healthcare process ranging from lasers. physiological monitoring, data One of the group’s main areas of encoding and transfer, through to research is in the characterisation biomedical signal processing and of high power laser diodes. PRFEG data display. In addition, the is able to study the defects and group is part of a virtual centre degradation processes of these developing means of formalising biomedical optics. This includes devices using their custom the assessment of healthcare the development of techniques for designed OMES facility, a robust technology in order to increase the PRFEG is currently researching the spectroscopy of scattering media and highly sophisticated optical efficiency of the medical device degradation processes of single (for example tissue). These new measurement system whose industry. emitters within a laser bar. This techniques are being applied to the characterisation facilities include: has enabled them to define the Previous research has included the design of novel oximeters for long- • photo-/electroluminescence characteristics of a ‘good’ emitter, development of new tools for term ambulatory use. microscopy which is unlikely to degrade and antenatal fetal monitoring, utilising Currently, much effort is also the conditions whereby emitters both the fetal electrocardiogram • spectroscopically-resolved focussed upon the design and are likely to fail. Other work has (recorded transabdominally) and photo-/electroluminescence application of integrated optical revealed the relationship between Doppler ultrasound techniques. microscopy and electronic sensor arrays for soldering induced stress and the The novelty of this data has • micro-photoluminescence use in various forms of biomedical presence of defects in a laser bar. enabled researchers to use microscopy imaging (for example real-time multifractal processing techniques, The group also has a strong full-field laser Doppler flowmetry). • photocurrent spectroscopy developed in-house, to monitor interest in the design and This work is carried out in maturation of the fetal brain • photo-induced current transient modelling of high power lasers. By conjunction with the VLSI design during gestation. spectroscopy working in collaboration with other activities, which are also part of groups, PRFEG has developed • electrical noise measurements In collaboration with other the Applied Optics Group. experimentally-validated software researchers in the Applied Optics Recently the group has also • more traditional measurements, that combines electrical, optical Group, there is also a strong embarked upon collaborative e- e.g. I-V, C-V, L-I and thermal solvers for the research programme in the area of science projects with other Schools modelling of high power lasers. in the University. This has resulted This model is used to investigate in the deployment of remote how design variations in tapered monitoring apparatus in the lasers affect device performance, Antarctic and the development of for example with the addition of advanced ambulatory monitoring beam spoilers and the reduction of the front facet reflectivity. instrumentation for ‘telemedicine’. 5 6 Materials and Device Characterisation Materials Chemistry The other expertise pages have The synthesis and characterisation highlighted the vast range of of materials lies at the centre of analysis equipment that exists any materials design strategy. within the University for materials Materials chemistry impacts not and device characterisation, and only on the creation of new the wealth of expertise that is materials and the ways by which • With Physics, new oxide and available to back this up. materials are processed but also nitride semiconductors are being The Advanced Materials Group in on developing the underpinning synthesised and doped with the School of Mechanical, Materials understanding of functionality that appropriate transition metals to and Manufacturing Engineering, drives research forward in new form new dilute ferromagnetic the Photonic and RF Engineering directions. Materials Chemistry semiconductors with potential research in the School of application in spintronics. These Group in the School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering and the Chemistry covers many different materials vary from doped zinc • electron microscopy Semiconductor Physics Group in areas of expertise from solid state oxide and titania to more exotic the School of Physics and • optical microscopy chemistry through polymer and ternary nitrides and from bulk organometallic chemistry to state- Astronomy is home to many of • surface chemical analysis powders to nanostructured thin these analysis and characterisation of-the-art spectroscopy. This films. Using materials chemistry • spectrometry techniques. expertise is applied within the synthetic approaches such as • structural analysis - X-ray and University to address new and sol-gel processing it is possible The key specialisations that are electron diffractometry exciting challenges in Photonics to design new materials of high available within the University and Electronics. homogeneity at a fraction of the include: • scanning probe microscopy Currently,