Bright IDEAS Award: Optical strategies for the manufacture of photonic materials

Novel photonic structures, such as photonic crystals and metamaterials, are causing a revolution in the way in which we think about controlling, manipulating and using light. Such materials can be manufactured using 3D structuring on the sub-micron/nanometre scale. Most conventional methods of fabrication on this scale are two-dimensional, so are not suited for the efficient construction of 3D materials. However, using non-linear laser-induced optical processes one can create structures with sub-micron 3D resolution as the fabrication effects are confined to the laser focus, rather than being spread out along the beam. There are however limitations that obstruct the further development of such techniques into a viable industrial process. One issue is the loss of resolution and effectiveness of fabrication as one focuses deeper into a 3D material - this limits the currently achievable device thickness. Another limitation is speed - existing processes are often slow, being constrained by the optical design of the systems to serial point-by-point fabrication. In this project, we will develop and apply active and adaptive optical techniques, based around deformable mirror and liquid crystal devices, to overcome these limitations and make 3D optical processing more effective as a manufacturing technology.

Members in the research group of the applicant - those directly working on the development of the new techniques will gain skills that could be transferred to other projects in the future. Others will indirectly benefit through learning about the new techniques in meetings and seminars with other group members. Collaborators within the University and elsewhere - this research will be undertaken in close consultation with other research groups with interests in the development and use of photonic materials. The principal investigator and research assistant will publicise this research to a wide audience to ensure that this impact is maximised. Wider research community - the results of this research could have wide application beyond the immediate field of photonic materials. We will publicise the work through prominent journal publications and through presentations at international and national conferences. Laser fabrication technology developers - there are a number of companies performing system integration for laser manufacturing. The most likely path to market of the outputs of this research would be through such industry. We will publicise our research through suitable forums to ensure that contact is made with this community. Where appropriate, we will consult with members of this community in developing methods tailored to their applications. End-users of fabrication technology - the end users of this technology will ultimately be the industrial areas that use laser-based manufacturing. They will ultimately gain from this research through the availability of new manufacturing tools. From an early stage in the research, consideration will be given to the end-users' needs, including quality, robustness and cost-effectiveness of the developed methods.