What we’re into

Our research interests currently include topics such as structured light, optical vortices and orbital angular momentum, digital holography, classical entanglement, high-dimensional quantum entanglement, quantum communications, novel lasers and laser resonators. Some of our recent research highlights are:

Cool Structured Light

a novel, indestructible “flame lens” made only from air (Nature Commun. 2013)
a complete toolkit for the modal decomposition of unknown laser beams using digital holograms (Adv. Opt. Photon. 2016)
classical light for quantum walks (PRL 2013 & PloS One 2019)
quantum state tomography with classical light (Adv. Opt. Photon. 2019)
a vector holographic trap (Scientific Reports 2018)

Novel Lasers

a “digital laser” for real-time mode control directly at the source (Nature Commun. 2013)
a geometric phase-controlled laser for OAM and vector beams (Nature Photonics 2016)
a novel approach to high-brightness lasers by structured light (Optica 2018)
fractal light from lasers (PRA 2019)
a super-chiral, meta-surface laser (Nature Photonics 2020)
multi-dimensional light from a simple laser (Optica 2020)

Quantum Photonics Tricks

self-healing high-dimensional quantum states (Nature Commun. 2014)
the first high-dimensional quantum key distribution with OAM (PRA 2013)
quantum state tomography with mutually-unbiased bases (PRL 2013)
high-dimensional quantum state engineering using Hong-Ou-Mandel interference (Science Advances 2016)
teleportation and entanglement swapping with orbital angular momentum (Nature Commun. 2017)
the equivalence of classical and quantum states (Nature Physics 2017)
entanglement-swapped ghost imaging (npj Quantum Information 2019)
multi-dimensional entanglement transport down fibre (Science Advances 2020)

Projects

We have several projects on the go, covering a wide range of topics. Please contact us if you are interested in these or any other topics.

Packing information into light

How much information can we pack into a photon? In this we expolre how to increase the bandwidth of optical communication systems using patterns (spatial modes) of light. The optical links we study are in both free space and fibres. In particular we consider effects of noise in the form of turbulence and efficient creation and detection methods.

Quantum communication

Can we use high-dimensional entanglement as a resource for secure quantum communication? Entanglement holds such promise, yet is frustratingly fragile. In this project we study how to cover a large distance with photonic quantum states entangled in high-dimensions. Topics include Quantum Key Distribution (QKD), quantum teleportation and entanglement swapping, and quantum secret sharing.

Structured light metrology

How much could we gain by placing “ordinary” light with customised structured light in optical metrology? Could we sense better, see smaller and measure with improved accuracy and precision? In this project the emphasis is on nano-meter surface measurements and improved chirality detection.

Quantum non-linear optics

Can we improve quantum protocols through non-linear optics? In this project we wish to demonstrate robust quantum transport of information using non-linear processes for the creation, modulation and detection.

Classical entanglement

Is it possible to build a quantum computer with classical light? Non-separability, the quintessential property of quantum entanglement, is not unique to quantum mechanics., and exists in vectorial structured light field too. In this project we will explore which quantum protocols can be implemented with classical light fields for the best of both the classical and quantum worlds.

Structured light lasers

Can lasers be made to output any desired optical field? In this project we will explore intra-cavity control of both the dynamic and geometric phase of light to generate structured light directly from a laser.

High-power structured light

Structured light is mostly managed at low powers. Here we wish to develop the tools for creating and applying structured light at very high powers.

Structured light chemistry

Is it possible to slow the rotation of molecules with orbital angular momentum? Doppler-free spectroscopy slows molecules down in their linear momentum, enabling higher resolution. In this project we will consider the argument for using light’s angular momentum to achieve rotation-free spectroscopy.

A digital toolbox

In this project we wish to build a complete digital toolbox for the creation and detection of arbitrary light fields, including vectorial light, using digital micro-mirror devices.

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