| Posted: August 13, 2009 |
New center in London sheds light on science of photonics |
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(Nanowerk News) A new centre for doctoral training at UCL is preparing to train the next generation of experts in the growing science of photonics.
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Just as electronics uses electrons to perform different functions, photonics combines electronics with the control of photons – elementary ‘packages’ of light – to perform similar or more advanced functions.
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| Fibre optic cable, an example of applied photonics.
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It includes the study of the generation, emission, transmission, modulation, signal processing, switching, amplification, detection and sensing of light.
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The real-world applications of photonics span everything from telecommunications to medicine and visual art to agriculture.
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Everyday examples of photonic systems include barcode scanners, laser eye surgery, holographic art, and mine laying and detection devices.
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The new centre for doctoral training (CDT) in Photonic Systems Development is a collaboration between UCL and the University of Cambridge.
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It is one of UCL’s nine doctoral training centres funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (ESPRC).
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It has been created to train future scientists and engineers with multidisciplinary skills to tackle the challenges that arise from the growing use of photonic systems.
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The first year of the PhD will take the form of taught modules and the following three years spent working on a specific project in a host department at UCL or Cambridge.
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Dr Cyril Renaud (UCL Electronic & Electrical Engineering), who is UCL site director of the CDT, said the first intake of students would start a four-year programme in September.
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He said: “Photonics is becoming a core technology in many applications. For example, modern communication systems have fibre optics at their heart. For this to operate efficiently, photonic systems developments are essential.”
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“A recent European study showed that photonics is the fastest growing industry, faster even than micro-electronics. Therefore there’s a huge demand for skills and expertise in photonics and that’s what we’re trying to answer.”
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