Applied Optics and Photonics

Heriot-Watt University

Fibre Optic Applications

Optical fibres offer great flexibility in taking precise optical measurement techniques and making them a practical and robust sensor option for real world instrumentation. Our interest include point sensors fabricated onto the end of fibres; fibre Bragg grating sensors; Long Period Grating sensors; and novel sensor embedding.

Medical Applications

High power, ultrashort pulsed lasers offer great potential in the field of medicine either directly as a surgical tool or in advanced manufacturing processes enabling novel medical device fabrication. Picosecond pulsed lasers offer significant advantages for high precision, minimally invasive surgery over existing techniques. We are investigating enhanced surgery on the delicate, critical structures of the body allowing more complete removal of invasive diseases (such as cancers) whilst avoiding severe complications and preserving function. Additionally, we are applying our photonics manufacturing expertise to the development of complimentary medical device technology for imaging, diagnosis and therapy.

Surface Modification

Lasers are ideal tools for highly controllable modification of the structure and/or functionality of a surface. We work on a wide range of laser surface modification processes, including engraving; marking; micro-machining; polishing; friction modification; and superhydrophobicity, for applications ranging from medical implants to ship engine parts.

Ultra-Fast Laser Applications

Ultra-Fast lasers, producing pulses in the femto- and pico-second range, allow us to access manufacturing regimes inaccessible by any other technique. This gives the ability to “cold process” materials with problematic thermal properties as well as to access non-linear phenomena to process materials from the inside out. Our interests include machining glasses, dissimilar material welding, and volumetric modification.