Home | Oxford Photonics

University of Oxford researchers at the forefront of development

From quantum photonics and metrology to super-resolution optical imaging, biophotonics, ultrafast spectroscopy, sensing, and laser processing, Oxford offers both a diverse range of expertise and a vibrant photonics community in which to study and work. The Photonics Network was set up by researchers in Chemistry, Engineering, Materials, Physics and biomedical departments, to organise optics and photonics related events and a range of interdisciplinary collaborative work. Activities started in 2011 and have been growing ever since.

Oxford Photonics research areas

BIOPHOTONICS

In biophotonics we aim to apply our optical expertise to the advancement of research on biological themes.

IMAGING

Imaging is an important aspect of photonics research across many departments within the University

SPECTROSCOPY

Spectroscopy is a key component of any optical toolkit, providing non-invasive monitoring of the composition of a sample.

MATERIALS AND DEVICES

Research into photonics materials and devices enable us to transfer our optical knowledge to a platform which is stable and easy to use

OPTICAL PHYSICS

Research in optical physics allows us to understand the basic properties of light and its generation from a fundamental starting point, as well as forming an important precursor to future technology

Photons

Photons provide both the briefest known events in the universe - optical pulses of order 10^-16 seconds in duration - and the means to measure the age of the universe itself (10¹⁷ seconds) via the spectrum of microwave background radiation. The scope and use of photonics in the 21st century, over 50 years after the invention of the laser, is vast and continually expanding, as basic research in the generation, manipulation, interaction, and detection of light fuels scientific discovery, the creation of novel applications, and the invention and engineering of new materials and devices for use in our everyday lives.

Oxford Photonics people

Yvonne Jones

Professor of Protein Crystallography

Yvonne Jones is director of the Cancer Research UK Receptor Structure Research Group which is primarily focused on the structural biology of cell surface recognition and signalling complexes.

Achillefs Kapanidis

Professor of Biological Physics

My group studies mechanisms and machines of gene expression using single-molecule biophysical methods and biochemistry.

Ji-Seon Kim

Professor of Electronic Materials

My research primarily focuses on sustainable molecular semiconductors, expanding into new classes of electronic materials such as mixed electronic/ionic conductors and organic/inorganic hybrids

Adam Kirrander

Professor of Physical and Theoretical Chemistry

My research interests are ultrafast imaging, quantum dynamics, and photochemistry.

Madhavi Krishnan

Professor of Physical Chemistry

Madhavi Krishnan is Associate Professor of Physical Chemistry at the University of Oxford.

Axel Kuhn

Associate Professor and Reader in Physics

I run the Atom-Photon Connection group, working on quantum optics and control, applied in particular to light-matter interactions at the single-quantum level.

Philipp Kukura

Professor of Physical Chemistry

My research is concerned with the development and application of spectroscopic and imaging tools designed to visualise, study and eventually control dynamic processes in chemistry and biology.

Christoffer Lagerholm

Facility Manager

I am the facility manager of the Wolfson Imaging Centre, based in the Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine. We specialise in methods of fluorescence imaging, including single molecule and super-resolution (STED, STORM/PALM).

David Lucas

Professor of Physics

I am an experimental atomic physicist working in the field of trapped-ion quantum computing. Previously I worked on cold atoms in optical lattices, and precision measurements for tests of fundamental physics.

Alexander (Alex) Lvovsky

Professor

My research interests are quantum optics, quantum information, and optical computing

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Optics and Photonics at Oxford