Introduction to LightHouse –
The Centre for Applied Photonics
Professor Tom Glynn
Professor Chris Dainty
Presentation Overview
ƒ Brief introduction to NCLA & AO
ƒ The NCLA and AO perspectives on the
research and manufacturing landscape in
Ireland
ƒ Introducing LightHouse- The Centre for
Applied Photonics
ƒ The Atlantic Laser and Optics ForumLightForum
Background
NCLA established in 1989
ƒ Aim to promote the use of laser materials processing technology
in Irish industry
Core activities in laser materials processing
ƒ Technology transfer and promotion
ƒ Applied research
ƒ Fundamental research
Industry sectors
ƒ Medical device
ƒ Electronics & semiconductor
ƒ Engineering
In 2005
ƒ Annual turnover > Euro 1.2 M (Industry, EI, EU)
ƒ 25 Research Staff
ƒ Interacted with ~ 50 client companies
Background to AO
ƒ Established 2002
ƒ Major funding from SFI, also EI, EU and
industry: total Euro 1.3M in 2005
ƒ Basic research in applied optics
ƒ Applications driven
ƒ Curiosity driven
ƒ Strong international presence
Interactions with manufacturing industry
Mutually beneficial for industry and university
Creates a relevant research activity
Informs the teaching programmes
Attracts and generates high calibre professional
researchers
ƒ Provides a valuable income stream to university
group
ƒ Leads to additional value in industrial operations
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ƒ The manufacturing landscape is changing….
The EU perspective on Manufacturing
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Economic importance (2002)
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27 million employed in manufacturing
Generates 1,300 B €uro
230,000 enterprises (>20 personnel)
70% in six sectors; food, auto, elec. & opto, metals, mech. & chemical
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Intense competition on two fronts
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FuTMaN report (Mar 2003),
ƒ Other developed economies compete on high tech goods
ƒ Traditional manufacturing is migrating to low wage economies, China, India
(These countries also beginning to compete at higher technical levels)
“Not only does R&D drive new developments in manufacturing, but
more importantly, manufacturing is the contextual driver for more
R&D.”
“The trend to move manufacturing physically abroad places strains
upon the communication channel between manufacturing and R&D
centres.”
NCLA Technology & Research Flow
IndustryDirect
Direct
Industry
Outreach&&Training
Training
Outreach
Technology Transfer
IndustryDirect
Direct
Industry
ProprietaryTechnologies
Technologies
Proprietary
Commercialisation
&&Commercialisation
Technology Development
FundamentalResearch
Research
Fundamental
Basic Technology Research
Agenda: Industry Direct
Focus
ƒ Primarily industry led or industry focussed
Areas of technical competence
ƒ Marking/Engraving
ƒ Precision Welding
- Polymers
- Metals
ƒ Micro- Drilling
ƒ Cutting
ƒ Micromachining
Partnership models
ƒ Early-stage technical feasibility/prototyping
ƒ Technology studies
ƒ Larger research projects focussed on specific needs of client
ƒ Agency part-funding schemes
ƒ Typically large scale projects with client specific outputs
Industry Direct Research Services
NCLA provides research services to
industry for small batch prototype
processing and metrology.
ƒ Precision Laser processing
ƒ Comprehensive Laser Facilities
ƒ Diagnostic Tools
Proprietary research
Industry-“inspired” research programs
ƒ Government-funded
ƒ Input from industry technology roadmaps
ƒ Exploitation of IP through research agreements
Primary Fields
ƒ Laser surface modification for biocompatibility studies
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Nano-structuring
Chemical modifications
Characterisation of surfaces
Cell culture studies
ƒ Assisted machining of semiconductor and polymer materials for
cleaner, higher precision, higher throughput drilling
ƒ Laser drilling for new drug delivery applications
ƒ Beam delivery solutions for complex micro-machining
applications
Agenda: Fundamental Research
Primary areas of interest:
ƒ Fundamentals of Laser Material Interactions
- Femtosecond –> nanosecond laser ablation regime
- Shock wave interactions with ambient/material
ƒ Computational Modelling of Laser Material
Interaction
- Molecular Dynamics Simulations
- Continuum Simulations
Applied Optics Research Agenda
ƒ Goals:
ƒ Educate young scientists in optical methods applied in life
sciences, imaging and information technologies
ƒ Carry out a diverse range of research projects: diversity ≡
strength
ƒ Focus on enhancing research activity and quality in Ireland:
putting Ireland and NUI Galway on the photonics map.
ƒ Challenges:
ƒ Starting point and timescale.
ƒ Establishing a “research active” environment at NUI Galway.
ƒ Defining a research culture in Ireland (e.g. PhD challenges).
Top 500 Universities
Applied Optics: Group Ethos
ƒ Focus on experimental work. Building things…. doing
something “real”.
ƒ Projects relate to real problems.
ƒ Many projects are “high risk”.
ƒ Individual projects, “ownership” by PhD student or post-doc.
ƒ Help others, pool resources and knowledge. Group database.
ƒ First good project, not the last one.
ƒ Courses: scientific, “skills”, business?
ƒ Frequent group meetings, presentations, seminars etc.
Posters.
ƒ Flexi-hours……………
ƒ Lots of visitors, many from companies.
Applied Optics: Research Areas
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3D imaging, Analysis of wavefront sensing
AO for retinal imaging using pyramid wavefront sensor
Low cost adaptive optics
Deformable mirror performance
Virtual wavefront sensing, modeling of the eye, optical design
Polarisation imaging, wavefront sensing
Software for high speed AO
Software for multiconjugate AO
Vision enhancement using AO
Woofer-tweeter AO
SCIDAR, single star inverse problem
Imaging of phase structures in the eye
AO in strong turbulence
AO enhanced en-face OCT/SLO
Applied Optics: Striving for Excellence
ƒ Importance of “Top 500”
ƒ Some actions:
peer-reviewed papers,
conference presentations, visitors, outreach,
video-conference, blog/knowledge repository,
colloquia, lecture programme, professional
skills training…
ƒ Industry coordinator: Una Murphy
Agenda: Outreach & Training by NCLA & AO
Technology Outreach & Networking
ƒ Promotion activities
ƒ Outreach Forum
Training
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Laser technology training courses
Laser safety training courses
Practical Optics & Optical Systems
Adaptive Optics
Part time post-graduate studies
Industry-sponsored post-graduates
International Focus
ƒ Many international research collaborators (~10)
ƒ President of European Optical Society 2002-2004
ƒ Membership of Boards of Directors of Optical Society of
America, and SPIE - The International Society for Optical
Engineering 2005-2007.
ƒ Secretary of Royal Irish Academy Physical Sciences Committee
ƒ Chair EAB of NSF Center for Adaptive Optics 2002 - 2004,
currently member of this Board.
ƒ Member of UK PPARC ELT Programme Steering Committee.
ƒ IUQB PhD Training Input.
ƒ 2003 Mees Medal (OSA), 2004 Optics & Photonics Division
Prize (IoP)
ƒ Contributions to the development of agenda for Photonics 21,
Industry Forum in Photonics
ƒ Recently, the NCLA and Applied Optics Group have
joined forces to create a centre with a critical mass in
both fundamental and applied research and industry
outreach activities. The joint initiative is called
LightHOUSE- The Centre for Applied Photonics
Aims of LightHouse
ƒ Promote excellence of fundamental research
ƒ Underpin industrial R&D in Ireland
ƒ Create new collaborations (researcher groups, industry)
ƒ Stimulate new spin-off companies
ƒ Provide technical training and state-of-the-art facilities
regionally and nationally.
http://www.nuigalway.ie/lighthouse
LightHOUSE- Industry Forum
ƒ The LightHouse outreach activity- The
Atlantic Laser & Optics Forum, has been
rebranded as LightFORUM
LightFORUM provides a framework in which technology transfer
and industry outreach is fostered and opportunities for
collaboration between industries and NUI Galway are created.
LightFORUM Activities
ƒ Training in laser and optics technologies
ƒ Access to university-based technology programmes
ƒ Networking opportunities with other industrial users of optics
and laser technologies
ƒ Access to university-based staff and postgraduate students
ƒ University company placement opportunities
ƒ Part time PhD and MSc programmes
ƒ Opportunity to advise LightHOUSE on industry needs
ƒ Regular updates on the activities of LightHOUSE
ƒ Access to international developments in selected areas of laser
and optics technologies
ƒ Opportunities to meet distinguished international visitors
LightHouse - Future Perspectives
ƒ Plans for dedicated building…
In summary
Manufacturing is being transformed
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Industries will be knowledge intensive
Operations will be adaptable and embrace new technologies
The research landscape has also changed
Research in lasers and applied optics will deliver long
term dividends in economic, industrial and medical
terms
LightHouse will use these complementary perspectives
and critical mass to:
ƒ Generate and exploit internationally recognised fundamental
research
ƒ Commercialise proprietary research
ƒ Promote the use of laser optics technologies to the benefit of
industry and society