Optical Engineering Research Group

The Optical Engineering Group was awarded the Queen’s Anniversary Prize in 2001 for applications of laser technology.  It is a multi-disciplinary research group active in all areas of optics and laser technology across a range of mechanical engineering applications.  The success of the Optical Engineering Group can be measured by the innovative techniques, developments and equipment supplied to the engineering community that has advanced the gathering and understanding of new engineering data. Techniques such as Electronic Speckle Pattern Interferometry (EPSI), Laser Vibrometry and Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) have grown from laboratory based research techniques into proven industrial technologies which are now used on a worldwide basis.

From high power laser applications, manufacture of components, through to high precision non-contact measurement of dynamic movements, the Optical Engineering Group uses optics and lasers to solve engineering problems.

Current research

• Professor Jeremy Coupland: Digital holographic and tomographic imaging.  Optical profilometry,   phase Doppler anemometry, lidar, and infrared thermography for meteorological applications.  Image processing.  Optical information processing.

• Professor Jonathan Huntley: Structural integrity. Speckle metrology.  Shape measurement.  Interferogram analysis.  Granular material dynamics.

• Dr David Kerr: Industrial machine vision.  Digital image processing.  Optical metrology.  Speckle interferometry.  Fringe analysis.

• Dr Sundar Marimuthu: High power laser material processing of metals and alloys; including laser cutting, laser welding, laser cladding, laser cleaning, laser shock peening and laser drilling.  Laser material processing with supersonic gas jets.  Laser Micro and Nano machining/ablation of hard coatings and ceramics.  Laser cutting and machining of composite materials.  FEM and CFD analysis of laser materials processes.

• Dr Jon Petzing: Dimensional metrology including Coordinate Metrology, Surface texture metrology, Surface topography.  Pressure metrology.  Optical Metrology.

• Professor Steve Rothberg: is the Pro Vice Chancellor (Enterprise).  His interests are: Non-contact motion measurements using laser techniques.  Laser vibrometry for translational and rotational vibration measurements.  Scanning and tracking laser vibrometry.  Applications of laser vibrometry in impact analysis and to measurements directly from rotors including engine vibration measurements.  Laser Doppler accelerometry.

• Dr Pablo Ruiz: Optical remote seismic refraction.  Probing materials remotely with a high-speed linear temporal phase shifting ESPI system and estimating internal structure by solving the inverse problem from known loads and displacements.

• Professor John Tyrer: Laser safety.  Optical metrology.  High power laser material processing.  Computer generated holographic optical elements.  Design of biomedical implants.  Optical forensic analysis.  Applications of holography.

  
  

The work of the Group is further supported by

• Phil Sutton, Visiting Professor in Signal Processing and Director, Corporate Research, at the MoD;
• Richard Leach, Visiting Professor
• Dr John O’Hagan, Visiting Fellow.