Grand Challenges in Photonics at the Industrial Interface Martin Dawson

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Grand ChallengesinPhotonics at the Industrial
InterfaceMartin Dawson
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Is this what we (in Physics) mean by the
Industrial interface?! Extreme view, but might
have a grain of truth. A call to arms!
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From SUPA launch Growing Scotlands GDP is
essential to the health of higher education
- Roger McClure (Chief Executive,
SHEFC) We need to explore the practical
applications of
physics research for the benefit of
society - Malcolm Longair (Chair, SUPA
Advisory Committee) There is an
(increasing) obligation on us, as well as
an opportunity, in working at the industrial
interface The industrial/commercial
interface imposes an important level
of discipline on, and reference for, our work
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Maintaining balance between
Malcolm Longair
fundamental physics
interdisciplinary
applied
research
physics
Basic Science
Practical technologies
complex interplay graduation
BECs Solid
state laser science Optoelectronics Angular
momentum of light Photonic crystals Light-matt
er interactions
Biophotonics Quantum optics
Quantum cryptography
Displays
Spectrum of photonics research in Scotland
balance is on applied side
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• What is research at the industrial/commercial
  interface?
• Research motivated by the desire to find and
  deliver on
• (near- to medium-term) applications for the work
• Contrasts to entirely curiosity-driven research
• undertaken for purely for its own sake
• RESEARCH WITH AN APPLICATIONS
• END-GOAL (GENUINELY) IN MIND
• AND WHERE CERTAIN RESTRICTIONS ARE
• ACCEPTED TO ACHIEVE IT

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• How can we benefit industry?
• How can industry benefit us?
• How can we work together to mutual benefit in
• - Established areas? (Univs. respond to
  industry)
• - New areas? (Univs. lead and/or
  create industry)
• What are the Grand Challenges?
• (need to articulate these as a community)

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• How can we benefit industry (globally and
  locally too)?
• 
  Scotland and UK
• Knowledge transfer - student/staff training
• (many forms) - consultancy
  contract work
• - patent
  and know-how licensing
• - networks
  informing industry
• Joint (publicly-funded) research programmes
• 
  which allow industry to take risk
• New company creation (overplayed, but still
  important)
• Discipline and awareness in
  handling of new knowledge.
• Pooling of patents between the
  Universities in SUPA?

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• I. How can industry benefit us?
• It can be both a direct and indirect source of
  significant research funding
• It imposes discipline on, and gives a frame of
  reference to, our research
• - our technologies must be practical and
  manufacturable
• - we must handle IP professionally
• -
• It sets us important technical challenges
  (roadmaps, foresighting)
• It allows us to gain access to new (global)
  technologies rapidly and to
• feed them back quickly into our own research
• Must think globally, cannot
  afford to be parochial

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II. How can industry benefit us?

• It provides capability and facilities which may
  not be affordable or
• available in the public sector (industry does
  certain things better)
• - scaling, performance, yield, .
• e.g. contracted out silicon processing
  (PhCs, MEMS, CMOS)
• - Yablonovic
• e.g. EUV lithography
• It provides a concentrated development
  environment, which
• - offers a commercial outlet to our
  work
• - can often achieve technological
  outcomes difficult to attain
• in (at least UK) Universities,
  e.g. SLE MBE GaN laser diode
• BUT SEE BELOW

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• III. How can industry benefit us?
• Old style corporate research may provide a
  model for the
• Universities to follow in certain circumstances
• Accept a grand challenge, combine expertise
  from several
• Institutions into a team to (attempt to)
• deliver an applications end-target
• GaN VCSEL
• Electrical-injection polymer laser

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I. Grand challenges
Physics
Devices
Materials
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• Advanced Photonic Materials
• Organic and inorganic semiconductors
• Photonic Crystals
• Nano/micro structures
• Sensors
• X-ray
• Optical
• Terahertz
• Novel Light Sources
• GaN-type
• Organic Devices
• Quantum Dots
• High power surface emitting lasers
• Micron sized diode arrays
• High power, ultrafast, narrow linewidth SSLs
• Advanced photonics-based measurement and
  processing techniques

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II. Grand challenges
Photonics
Electronics
Communications and techmedia
Instrumentation
Two levels standard electronics VLSI
design, fast drivers, CMOS
advanced electronics GaN electronics opto.,

GaN/Si, single electron devices

microwave and mm wave cmpnts.
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III. Grand challenges
Photonics
Chemistry
Metrology (reaction dynamics, attosecond science,
nanobiometrology) Hybrid organic/inorganic
structures and devices Direct writing
Shape-change polymers Sensing Organic
optoelectronics Quantum dots
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IV. Grand challenges
Photonics
Biomedicine

• c.f. Biophotonics sub-theme
• Benefits from previous two Grand Challenges
• Needs to unite with Chemistry and Electronics for
  maximum impact
• (add to optics for imaging/manipulation)

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• Next steps
  
• Comments and input welcome
• m.dawson_at_strath.ac.u
  k
• Set up sub-committee for this theme area
• Discussion groups and events to articulate
• Grand Challenges and how to deliver on them

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• Scottish Enterprise
• www.scottish-enterprise.com
• Scottish Optoelectronics Association
• www.optoelectronics.org.uk
• TTOM Awards
• www.ttom.org.uk
• Connect
• www.connectonthenet.com
• Intermediary Technology Institutes (ITIs)
• www.itiscotland.com
• www.itilifesciences.com
• www.itienergy.com
• www.ititechmedia.com
• DTI Technology Programme
• www.dti.gov.uk/technologyprogramme
• SE/RSE Enterprise Fellowships
• www.scottish-enterprise.com/enterprise-fellowships
  .htm
• Proof of Concept
• http//www.scottish-enterprise.com/proofofconcept.
  htm