Geometry of imaging
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Glasgow
Department Name: College of Science and Engineering
Abstract
Context of the research
The PhD student is part of a group that researches thin, micro-structured, sheet materials that change the direction of transmitted light rays. The mathematical relationship between the incident and outgoing light-ray directions, known as the generalised law of refraction, can be very general.
The generalised laws of refraction that can be achieved at the moment include laws that enable very versatile imaging of all space, which in turn allows structures of the sheet materials to form transformation-optics devices.
As part of EPSRC grants EP/M010724/1 and EP/M010767/1 we are in the process of exploring potential applications of transformation-optics devices formed from our sheet materials. One particularly simple application is to use our sheet materials in low-vision aids for patients with very poor eyesight.
There are a number of difficulties to be overcome before we can build actual transformation-optics devices from our sheet materials, and we are working on doing just that. Should this succeed, then our way of realising transformation optics is a very simple approach with unique advantages. We are in the process of exploring potential applications for the technology.
Aims and objectives
The PhD project aims to extend work on the thin-sheet materials beyond that described in our EPSRC grants in a number of ways.
Firstly, in collaboration with Prof. Tomas Tyc (Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic), we intend to simplify the design of transformation-optics devices. Furthermore, we will investigate the possibility of realising more general transformations.
Secondly, in collaboration with Dr Simon Horsley (Exeter University), we intend to investigate the possibility of realising the generalised laws of refraction that are currently realised with micro-structured sheets with metasurfaces. This would allow the applications of our microstructured sheet materials to be realised without the shortcomings of these materials.
The PhD student is part of a group that researches thin, micro-structured, sheet materials that change the direction of transmitted light rays. The mathematical relationship between the incident and outgoing light-ray directions, known as the generalised law of refraction, can be very general.
The generalised laws of refraction that can be achieved at the moment include laws that enable very versatile imaging of all space, which in turn allows structures of the sheet materials to form transformation-optics devices.
As part of EPSRC grants EP/M010724/1 and EP/M010767/1 we are in the process of exploring potential applications of transformation-optics devices formed from our sheet materials. One particularly simple application is to use our sheet materials in low-vision aids for patients with very poor eyesight.
There are a number of difficulties to be overcome before we can build actual transformation-optics devices from our sheet materials, and we are working on doing just that. Should this succeed, then our way of realising transformation optics is a very simple approach with unique advantages. We are in the process of exploring potential applications for the technology.
Aims and objectives
The PhD project aims to extend work on the thin-sheet materials beyond that described in our EPSRC grants in a number of ways.
Firstly, in collaboration with Prof. Tomas Tyc (Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic), we intend to simplify the design of transformation-optics devices. Furthermore, we will investigate the possibility of realising more general transformations.
Secondly, in collaboration with Dr Simon Horsley (Exeter University), we intend to investigate the possibility of realising the generalised laws of refraction that are currently realised with micro-structured sheets with metasurfaces. This would allow the applications of our microstructured sheet materials to be realised without the shortcomings of these materials.
Organisations
Studentship Projects
| Project Reference | Relationship | Related To | Start | End | Student Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP/N509668/1 | 01/10/2016 | 30/09/2021 | |||
| 1840091 | Studentship | EP/N509668/1 | 03/10/2016 | 30/04/2020 | Jakub Belin |
| Description | - development of the theory of invisibility with ideal thin lenses, theoretical design of an invisibility cloak built of lenses and related design of "omnidirectional lens" which provides lens imaging when looking in all directions - development of the theory of imaging due to a system of two tilted lenses and image rotation with three tilted lenses - novel way of simulating optics in curved two and three-dimensional spaces using wedges of material with a negative refractive index - New exact solution to the Schrodinger equation on a curved surface, namely a regular tetrahedron. Found that time evolution of a wave on such a folded surface well describes optical diffraction from certain kinds of grating, which we show experimentally. Paper "Quantum mechanics and Talbot revivals on a tetrahedron" submitted to PRL - design of Arrays of dark optical traps on a toroidal surface using vector Bessel beams |
| Exploitation Route | - After being successfully realized, our lens transformation-optics devices might be employed in high-resolution microscopy or virtual-reality devices - Image rotation with three skew lenses might be used for treating cyclotropia and therefore has a potential medical application - Our design of dark arrays on a toroidal surface is a first step towards the experimental generation of a toroidal optical lattice for atoms. The trapping of atoms in such a lattice represents an ideal environment for simulating the fractal quantum Hall effect. Our work also highlights the interactions of crossing vortex lines in superposed fields and provides motivation for studying them further. - The new connection between quantum physics on a curved background and the classical theory of diffraction will have implications for those working in wave physics, metamaterials, diffraction, and exact solutions to the Schrodinger equation. Our results open a new research direction, connecting the study of quantum mechanics on folded surfaces and diffraction. |
| Sectors | Other |
| Description | Lord Kelvin Postgraduate Scholarship Fund |
| Amount | £650 (GBP) |
| Organisation | University of Glasgow |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 03/2018 |
| End | 12/2018 |
| Description | University of Glasgow College of Science and Engineering Research Student Mobility Scholarship |
| Amount | £1,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | University of Glasgow |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 02/2017 |
| End | 12/2017 |
| Description | 7 Minutes of Science |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | I gave a talk at a public event called "7 Minutes of Science" on 7th February. People from the audience asked me several questions afterwards. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | https://www.facebook.com/events/392512121207079/?active_tab=about |
| Description | Explorathon |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | I presented research outcomes of our department at Explorathon, Scotland's contribution to European researcher's night. People were fascinated by our research and enjoyed the way we presented our work. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| URL | https://www.supa.ac.uk/newsletter/story/explorathon_201610.php |
| Description | Open day |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Volunteering and presenting on an open day of School of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Glasgow. The attraction of potential students to physics increased after the open day where they could see the research outcomes of the individual departments, including the optics department. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017,2018 |
| Description | Optical Sciences Seminar |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | I gave a talk at Optical Sciences Seminar, a student-organised seminar at School of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Glasgow. 15 members of research staff from several departments saw my talk interesting and well presented. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | https://samoa.dcs.gla.ac.uk/events/viewtalk.jsp?id=15893 |
| Description | Physics Society talk |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Undergraduate students |
| Results and Impact | I gave talk about invisibility on an event of University of Glasgow Physics Society. The audience was excited by my entertaining presentation and some members initiated an intereseting and deep discussion and came out with innovative ideas. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | https://www.facebook.com/guphysoc/ |
| Description | Pint of Science Festival |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Event manager of an exhibition called "Creative Reactions" as a part of Pint of Science Festival. The event had been sold out and the audience was fascinated by the exhibition, which aimed to fuse science and arts. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| URL | https://pintofscience.co.uk/event/creative-reactions-glasgow |
| Description | Science Slam |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | I presented my research at Science Slam competition, an evening in which the research students present their own scientific research work in a given time frame in front of a non-expert audience. People really enjoyed my performance and I won the 1st prize. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | https://www.facebook.com/ScienceSlamGlasgow/ |
| Description | Seminar Talk |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | A talk, presented on Theor Tea, a student-organised seminar on Theoretical Physics, run at Masaryk University in Brno, Czech Republic. The participants enjoyed my talk and asked me several questions. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Theor Tea |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Talk at a student-organised seminar "Theor Tea" at the Department of Theoretical Physics and Astrophysics at Masaryk University in Brno, Czechia. Cca 15 PhD students and members of the research staff found my talk very interesting and my presentation sparked a detailed discussion afterwards. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | https://www.facebook.com/ustavUTFA/photos/a.1157617224252126/2634094963271004/?type=3&theater |
| Description | University of Exeter Physics Theory Seminar |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | I gave a talk at "Physics Theory Seminar" of the School of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Exeter on 30th January. The talk was followed by several questions and a detailed discussion with some of the participants. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | University of Rochester Optics seminar |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | 15 people attended my talk at a weekly seminar of the Institute of Optics at the University of Rochester, which sparked questions and discussion afterwards. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |