Corporate

Imperial College London

The mission of the Photonics Group is to conduct internationally significant research into the fundamental science underlying optical technologies and to develop novel technologies for real-world applications. We aim to foster a climate of innovation and interdisciplinary collaboration that supports our research programmes and provides a stimulating environment for our post-graduate students. MSc and PhD students are trained to work with state-of-the-art photonics technology and to understand the underlying physics. Our research aims to be adventurous and curiosity-driven but relevant to the wider photonics and photonics user communities. We welcome interaction with industry and try to ensure that our research priorities are informed by our industrial partners as well as by the academic community.
Our interdisciplinary research collaborations embrace other research groups, particularly QOLS, in the Physics Department and we interact with many other colleagues from Imperial College. Externally we maintain many formal and informal collaborations with academic and industrial colleagues in the UK and abroad. The breadth and scope of our research programmes is reflected in the diverse range of funding sources. In particular, we gratefully acknowledge funding from: Aura, Inc., BBSRC, DERA, EU, EPSRC, HEFCE, Holoscan (UK) Ltd, IPF Technology Ltd, IPG Group, Kentech Instruments Ltd, NPL, PPARC, Thales Optics and The Wellcome Trust. Recently we have been awarded a significant JIF grant for the establishment of the Strategic Photonics Applied Research Centre that aims to promote high bit rate communications and imaging technologies, exploiting fundamental scientific advances in ultrafast lasers, fibre-optic technology and adaptive optics. Around this "kernel" we develop technology for optical telecommunications, biomedical imaging and astronomy. The Photonics Group further includes significant research efforts into high power diode-pumped laser technology, electromagnetics of complex media and optical fibre sensors.