Developing ultrafast laser-based imaging and spectroscopy for industrial applications.
Lead Research Organisation:
Science and Technology Facilities Council
Department Name: Central Laser Facility (CLF)
Abstract
My research concentrates on developing technology to offer compact, reliable, robust laser products to be employed by
industrial end-users on their own sites to characterise complex 3D objects, helping to bridge the gap between industry and
academic research. There are two main areas of research that are of interest, surface analysis and time-resolved
tomographic mapping of the internal structures. Lasers can offer an industrial solution to both of these problems. In
partnership with the High Value Manufacturing (HVM) Catapult and Johnson Matthey plc I will conduct research at the CLF
and undertake knowledge transfer placements with them to define what issues they face and design specific laser-based
solutions around the problems that I find with a view to translation of the technology into industrial environments.
industrial end-users on their own sites to characterise complex 3D objects, helping to bridge the gap between industry and
academic research. There are two main areas of research that are of interest, surface analysis and time-resolved
tomographic mapping of the internal structures. Lasers can offer an industrial solution to both of these problems. In
partnership with the High Value Manufacturing (HVM) Catapult and Johnson Matthey plc I will conduct research at the CLF
and undertake knowledge transfer placements with them to define what issues they face and design specific laser-based
solutions around the problems that I find with a view to translation of the technology into industrial environments.
Planned Impact
The impact of this research is far reaching with implications in modern medicine, bio-imaging, energy and advanced
manufacturing. The UK holds a leading position in high value manufacturing and a core goal of the Industrial Strategy is to
capitalise on the excellent R&D output of the academic community to ensure a competitive edge for UK industry. Future
technologies need to meet the ever-expanding demand of a highly technological society while at the same time minimising
the environmental impact of increased productivity. The worldwide transition to cleaner energy sources presents rapidly
growing commercial opportunities and innovation-led research is essential for the UK to maintain a prime position in these
markets.
Developing new battery technologies is a vital component of the strategy because of the requirement for energy storage,
particularly for electric vehicles and intermittent renewable energy sources. Alternative manufacturing techniques can also
lessen environmental impact through additive manufacturing (AM) and the use of composite materials by minimising waste
material from the production process and reducing the weight of products such as aircraft leading to higher fuel efficiency.
Better understanding of the very fast transitions in photo-induced processes in order to develop new photovoltaics is also
crucial to maximise the efficiency of solar cells and photo-catalysts. Improved image contrast in low-Z materials is crucial
for polymer-based AM parts, carbon-fibre composites and graphite battery electrodes. Laser-driven sources also have
huge potential in the field of healthcare technologies enabling high throughout phenotyping for studies of genetic function
and enhanced imaging for soft tissue radiotherapy that suffers from poor contrast with conventional x-ray sources.
The innovative science carried out at the CLF is developing sources to provide for industry advanced methods of
vibrational spectroscopy, element specific x-ray absorption spectroscopy and phase enhanced x-ray microCT. Laserplasma
electron accelerators achieving multi-GeV level energies in cm-scale structures are revolutionizing our ideas of how
to deliver extreme brightness x-ray beams for material inspection. The huge reduction in size and cost offered by this
technology compared to synchrotrons will give many users access to unparalleled non-destructive evaluation capability that
has never been possible before.
My ISCF fellowship will allow us to greatly strengthen the collaboration with our industrial partners Johnson Matthey plc and
the institutes within the High Value Manufacturing Catapult. Knowledge exchange with these companies will allow me to
gain better insight into existing industrial practices and allow them to understand how our new technologies can address
the imaging challenges they face. The key manufacturing groups targeted in this project who will immediately benefit are in
the sectors of advanced battery manufacture and additive and composite manufacturing. By widely publicizing my work I
hope to encourage other industry groups to follow the example of these industry leaders and engage with the UK research
community to our mutual advantage.
This work is all underpinned by a background of fundamental laser physics, a scientific area in which the UK is a world
leader. Increased collaboration with industry will enable commercialization of this technology leading to cost reduction and
increased reliability. As well as allowing for the transition of this fundamental work into industry to keep UK plc at the cutting
edge of technological advances, it is hugely beneficial to the academic community who rely on access to advanced lasers
for their research programs.
manufacturing. The UK holds a leading position in high value manufacturing and a core goal of the Industrial Strategy is to
capitalise on the excellent R&D output of the academic community to ensure a competitive edge for UK industry. Future
technologies need to meet the ever-expanding demand of a highly technological society while at the same time minimising
the environmental impact of increased productivity. The worldwide transition to cleaner energy sources presents rapidly
growing commercial opportunities and innovation-led research is essential for the UK to maintain a prime position in these
markets.
Developing new battery technologies is a vital component of the strategy because of the requirement for energy storage,
particularly for electric vehicles and intermittent renewable energy sources. Alternative manufacturing techniques can also
lessen environmental impact through additive manufacturing (AM) and the use of composite materials by minimising waste
material from the production process and reducing the weight of products such as aircraft leading to higher fuel efficiency.
Better understanding of the very fast transitions in photo-induced processes in order to develop new photovoltaics is also
crucial to maximise the efficiency of solar cells and photo-catalysts. Improved image contrast in low-Z materials is crucial
for polymer-based AM parts, carbon-fibre composites and graphite battery electrodes. Laser-driven sources also have
huge potential in the field of healthcare technologies enabling high throughout phenotyping for studies of genetic function
and enhanced imaging for soft tissue radiotherapy that suffers from poor contrast with conventional x-ray sources.
The innovative science carried out at the CLF is developing sources to provide for industry advanced methods of
vibrational spectroscopy, element specific x-ray absorption spectroscopy and phase enhanced x-ray microCT. Laserplasma
electron accelerators achieving multi-GeV level energies in cm-scale structures are revolutionizing our ideas of how
to deliver extreme brightness x-ray beams for material inspection. The huge reduction in size and cost offered by this
technology compared to synchrotrons will give many users access to unparalleled non-destructive evaluation capability that
has never been possible before.
My ISCF fellowship will allow us to greatly strengthen the collaboration with our industrial partners Johnson Matthey plc and
the institutes within the High Value Manufacturing Catapult. Knowledge exchange with these companies will allow me to
gain better insight into existing industrial practices and allow them to understand how our new technologies can address
the imaging challenges they face. The key manufacturing groups targeted in this project who will immediately benefit are in
the sectors of advanced battery manufacture and additive and composite manufacturing. By widely publicizing my work I
hope to encourage other industry groups to follow the example of these industry leaders and engage with the UK research
community to our mutual advantage.
This work is all underpinned by a background of fundamental laser physics, a scientific area in which the UK is a world
leader. Increased collaboration with industry will enable commercialization of this technology leading to cost reduction and
increased reliability. As well as allowing for the transition of this fundamental work into industry to keep UK plc at the cutting
edge of technological advances, it is hugely beneficial to the academic community who rely on access to advanced lasers
for their research programs.
Organisations
- Science and Technology Facilities Council (Lead Research Organisation)
- Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Collaboration)
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (Collaboration)
- Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC) (Collaboration)
- University of Warwick (Collaboration)
- Johnson Matthey (United Kingdom) (Collaboration, Project Partner)
- WMG Catapult (Project Partner)
- Manufacturing Technology Centre (United Kingdom) (Project Partner)
- Private Address (Fellow)
Publications
Dann S
(2019)
Laser wakefield acceleration with active feedback at 5 Hz
in Physical Review Accelerators and Beams
Finlay O
(2021)
Characterisation of a laser plasma betatron source for high resolution x-ray imaging
in Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion
Gruse J
(2020)
Application of compact laser-driven accelerator X-ray sources for industrial imaging
in Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment
Karimi S
(2023)
CT results using an inverse Compton x-ray source
Shalloo RJ
(2020)
Automation and control of laser wakefield accelerators using Bayesian optimization.
in Nature communications
Streeter M
(2018)
Temporal feedback control of high-intensity laser pulses to optimize ultrafast heating of atomic clusters
in Applied Physics Letters
Underwood C
(2020)
Development of control mechanisms for a laser wakefield accelerator-driven bremsstrahlung x-ray source for advanced radiographic imaging
in Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion
Description | A detailed look has been performed of the potential uses of laser-plasma accelerators and the currently exploitable options have been explored. This will form the bedrock of research going forward allowing others to quickly see where new improvements in laser-plasma accelerators may be exploited. |
Exploitation Route | It has helped to narrow down the possible uses of laser-plasma accelerators and helped industry users become more familiar with the research. |
Sectors | Aerospace Defence and Marine Energy Manufacturing including Industrial Biotechology Culture Heritage Museums and Collections Security and Diplomacy |
Description | EPSRC electoral college |
Geographic Reach | National |
Policy Influence Type | Membership of a guideline committee |
Description | IOP Special Intrest Group Membership |
Geographic Reach | National |
Policy Influence Type | Membership of a guideline committee |
URL | https://www.iop.org/physics-community/special-interest-groups/plasma-physics-group |
Description | STFC Technology and Accelerator Advisory Board (TAAB) |
Geographic Reach | National |
Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
URL | https://stfc.ukri.org/about-us/how-we-are-governed/advisory-boards/technology-and-accelerator-board/ |
Title | Code and data associated with Automation and control of laser wakefield accelerators using Bayesian optimisation |
Description | This is a model used in the automation of laser-plasma accelerators and is the first one of its kind. This could improve the performance of these novel accelerators and make them more accessible. This work also feeds back into the conventional accelerator communitee and is work that could find a use in the optimisation of those accelerators. |
Type Of Material | Computer model/algorithm |
Year Produced | 2020 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Impact | None yet |
URL | https://zenodo.org/record/4229537 |
Title | X-ray absorption spectroscopy using an ultrafast laboratory-scale laser-plasma accelerator source |
Description | The data contained in this repository was used in the production of the publication "X-ray absorption spectroscopy using an ultrafast laboratory-scale laser-plasma accelerator source" |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2023 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
URL | https://zenodo.org/record/7876185 |
Description | Johnson Matthey (JM) |
Organisation | Johnson Matthey |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Private |
PI Contribution | There have been a number of exchanges of ideas. I have helped JM to understand how ultrafast laser systems could be used by them and had a number of meetings where we plan and apply for future experiments at national facilities. |
Collaborator Contribution | By working with JM we have defined an area where ultrafast laser systems could be used to solve some of there problems and begin to think in detail about the types of experiments and what sort of samples would be used in these experiments. |
Impact | The outputs are on-going as this is the start of the collaboration, the output has been: - Several planning meetings of experiments - Talk at JM presenting my research and looking for partnership going forward |
Start Year | 2018 |
Description | LBNL |
Organisation | Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory |
Country | United States |
Sector | Public |
PI Contribution | Potential comercial uses of resarch |
Collaborator Contribution | Access to knowledge and research facilities |
Impact | Paper in submission |
Start Year | 2018 |
Description | LLNL |
Organisation | Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory |
Country | United States |
Sector | Public |
PI Contribution | Developed a new avenue of research potential within the NDT field |
Collaborator Contribution | Brought technical expertise to the research team |
Impact | Paper in process |
Start Year | 2022 |
Description | Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC) |
Organisation | Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC) |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Private |
PI Contribution | Working with MTC has had a number of benefits which include communicating my research to a number of potential users and exploring where this technology can make the biggest impact. |
Collaborator Contribution | By working with MTC we have defined a challenge they are facing. MTC have provided a well characterised sample that is to be tackled with the laser-based technique as was the aim of this fellowship. |
Impact | No output yet |
Start Year | 2018 |
Description | Warwick Manfacturing Group (WMG) |
Organisation | University of Warwick |
Department | Warwick Manufacturing Group |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | I have been to WMG on a number of occasions and worked with there industrial inspection group to communicate how ultrafast lasers could be useful to them and what new areas of research that can be accessed with these techniques. |
Collaborator Contribution | By working with WMG we have defined a package of work which will help to demonstrate how laser driven sources can be useful to the industrial inspection community and have begun to design experiments around the samples that they will provide. |
Impact | No output yet |
Start Year | 2018 |
Description | Applied and Industrial Research with XFELS |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Presentation on the uses of an XFEL from an industry and academia/industry point of view. Helping to strengthen the case for a UK XFEL proposal and exchange ideas on an XFEL uses in Industry. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
URL | https://www.clf.stfc.ac.uk/Pages/Applied-and-Industrial-Research-with-XFELS.aspx |
Description | CLF internal talk |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Other audiences |
Results and Impact | Gave a public outreach talk to colleagues at the CLF, this was focused on the outcomes of this fellowship and helped others in the department gain an insight into this fellowship. With one colleague reporting that "It was an uplifting and inspiring talk that reminded me of the importance of the work that we do" |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
Description | EPSRC- Manufacturing the Future Research Priority Workshop |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
Results and Impact | Help to plan out the future priorities of manufacturing looking at some of the challenges that are coming up in the future. The workshop focused on how EPSRC and researchers can address those challenges. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
URL | https://epsrc.ukri.org/newsevents/events/mtf-strategy-refresh-research-priorities-workshop/ |
Description | Engineering Outreach |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | Gave a lecture at COSINE, which brings together engineers across RAL departments on the graduate training scheme. This helped to inform colleagues about the work that this fellowship undertakes and why it's important. It also helped to give insight into big science and it's practical application to engineering. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | Industry Tour Edwards |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | Tour for Edwards vacuum that has had number of projects with the CLF on inspection in the past and wanted to look at the facilities capabilities |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | Industry Tour Rolls Royce |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | Helped give a tour for Rolls Royce who has engaged in a number of experiments at the CLF and wanted to understand further laser-driven x-ray sources |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | JM workshop |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | Gave a presentation to an Industrial collaborator at there annual workshop on work done at STFC facilities. Presented the scientific content of the fellowship and how this could apply to them. Generated a meeting of collaborators and work towards beam time at the CLF. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |