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Our researchers develop advanced technologies that harness light with exceptional precision and flexibility. These innovations include ultrafast lasers, optical frequency combs, and supercontinuum sources, which produce light across a broad range of wavelengths, from the vacuum ultraviolet to the mid-infrared. These technologies are essential for applications in spectroscopy, the study of how light interacts with matter, as well as metrology, the science of measurement, and imaging. Together, they drive progress in fields such as astronomy, medical diagnostics, and industrial manufacturing.

A significant focus is the development of ultrafast lasers, which generate pulses of light shorter than one millionth of a millionth of one second. We have wide expertise in creating tuneable light sources, from the deep ultraviolet used by the semiconductor industry, to the long-wave infrared needed for greenhouse gas detection and the identification of hazardous materials.

Through collaborations with global industry partners and academic institutions, we are applying our research in advanced light-source technologies to real-world problems in chemistry, manufacturing, life-sciences and quantum technology. From enabling groundbreaking scientific discoveries to enhancing industrial processes, our work continues to expand the possibilities of what light can achieve.

Photonics is a world-leading area of research expertise at ½­ÄÏÌåÓý University, recognised in the 2021 Queen's Anniversary Prize for photonics. The Institute of Photonics and Quantum Sciences (IPaQS) is an integral part of a focused research ecosystem, collaborating on aligned projects across our other institutes and global research institutes; The National Robotarium, The Lyell Centre for Earth and Marine Sciences and Technology, The Global Research Institute in Health and Care Technologies, and the iNetZ+ Global Research Institute for Net Zero and Beyond.

By bringing together experts in photonics, and a range of scientific disciplines, in a collaborative environment, the most complex challenges can be tackled. This interdisciplinary approach is strengthened through external partnerships, ensuring the research not only advances scientific understanding but also delivers real-world impact across multiple sectors, from telecommunications to healthcare and precision manufacturing.