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Novel Quantum Cascade Laser technology leads to new products, processes and market opportunities

Summary of the impact

The commercialisation of Quantum Cascade Lasers (QCL) and the associated novel fabrication processes developed at the University of Glasgow has provided Compound Semiconductor Technologies Global Ltd (CSTG) with a new foundry product supplying quantum cascade lasers for gas sensing, safety and security, and military applications. This resulted in 40% turnover growth from 2010-2012 and the company is now recognised as a global leader in QCLs and their fabrication. Based on University of Glasgow research, the company has created a manufacturing toolbox for the production of a wide variety of QCL chip designs. CSTG has also achieved a world first, manufacturing QCLs for systems that detect explosives at a safe distance and can counter heat-seeking missile attacks on aircraft.

Submitting Institution

University of Glasgow

Unit of Assessment

General Engineering

Summary Impact Type

Technological

Research Subject Area(s)

Physical Sciences: Atomic, Molecular, Nuclear, Particle and Plasma Physics, Optical Physics, Other Physical Sciences

Human safety and economic benefits from commercialisation of a unique gas detection product

Summary of the impact

New commercial gas sensing technology developed from research at the University of Strathclyde brings extensive technical, operational, safety and cost benefits to applications such as mine safety and leak detection in methane production, storage, piping and transport systems. World-wide commercial sales (in Japan, China and the USA) began in late 2010 through a spin out company, OptoSci Ltd. Sales are growing and have amounted to a total of £250k since launch plus a customisation contract for £193k, leading to jobs sustainability and growth. In addition to economic impacts, the technology also brings health and safety benefits in the gas distribution and mining industries through human safety assurance in the event of gas leaks / build up.

Submitting Institution

University of Strathclyde

Unit of Assessment

Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Metallurgy and Materials

Summary Impact Type

Technological

Research Subject Area(s)

Engineering: Electrical and Electronic Engineering
Technology: Communications Technologies
Medical and Health Sciences: Neurosciences

Development of ultra-stable lasers for metrology, spectroscopy and imaging

Summary of the impact

Pound-Drever-Hall (PDH) locking, developed into a practical technique by researchers at the University of Glasgow, is the ubiquitous method for the precise frequency control of stable laser systems. This control is central to laser products from companies such as Toptica and Newport, and has an estimated global annual market in excess of £5M. The PDH stabilisation technique is essential for the operation of the time standards maintained in all of the world's Governmental Metrological Standards Laboratories (e.g. NPL, NIST, BIPM) and finds applications in inspection tools in the semiconductor industry and deep UV lasers for UV-Raman spectroscopy.

Submitting Institution

University of Glasgow

Unit of Assessment

Physics

Summary Impact Type

Technological

Research Subject Area(s)

Physical Sciences: Atomic, Molecular, Nuclear, Particle and Plasma Physics, Other Physical Sciences
Technology: Communications Technologies

High Power Fibre Lasers

Summary of the impact

High power fibre laser research undertaken at the University of Southampton has led to the creation of a new business sector in the generation of highly efficient and highly practical fibre laser technology. This has revolutionised areas of industrial material processing and enabled the development of specialist components for high-end industries (such as aviation and defence) as well as an array of new medical devices, procedures and manufacturing technologies. The research is also directly responsible for the commercial success and sustained growth of a spin-out company, SPI Lasers Ltd, which has an annual turnover of over £40 million and employs more than 250 people in the Southampton area.

Submitting Institution

University of Southampton

Unit of Assessment

Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Metallurgy and Materials

Summary Impact Type

Economic

Research Subject Area(s)

Physical Sciences: Other Physical Sciences
Technology: Communications Technologies

From the lab to wind turbines and beyond… the global commercial impact of Aston’s fibre Bragg grating research

Summary of the impact

Aston's fibre Bragg grating research on optical sensing has had a global commercial impact, in particular the development of low-cost fibre FBG sensor interrogation methods. The work has been carried out with a diverse range of companies (including BAE Systems, Airbus, Insensys, Schlumberger) working across different sectors including oil and gas aerospace and marine. Specific impacts include the acquisition of 70% of the stock of Insensys Wind for US$15.7 million by Moog in 2009 and continuing employment by Smart Fibres, Moog Insensys and Astasense.

Submitting Institution

Aston University

Unit of Assessment

Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Metallurgy and Materials

Summary Impact Type

Technological

Research Subject Area(s)

Engineering: Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Materials Engineering
Technology: Communications Technologies

Novel laser products open up new markets for spin-out company Intense

Summary of the impact

High-power lasers developed at the University of Glasgow now lie at the heart of state-of-the-art technologies in the commercial printing, medical and defence markets. University of Glasgow spin-out company Intense has introduced more than 10 new diode laser products with superior brightness, longer lifetimes and increased reliability to these markets since 2008. [text removed for publication.] In 2011 Intense was bought by ORIX USA Corporate Finance Group for an undisclosed sum.

Submitting Institution

University of Glasgow

Unit of Assessment

General Engineering

Summary Impact Type

Technological

Research Subject Area(s)

Physical Sciences: Atomic, Molecular, Nuclear, Particle and Plasma Physics, Other Physical Sciences
Technology: Communications Technologies

Increased employment and wealth creation from a spin out technology company - Cascade Technologies

Summary of the impact

Cascade Technologies is a rapidly expanding technology company that contributes significantly to the UK economy. The company, a spin out from the Physics Department, manufactures gas sensors based on Strathclyde research that are used for environmental monitoring, security monitoring and process monitoring. From 2008 to 2013 the company has expanded to employ 50 people and sales have increased from £0.9 million to £6.4 million. From 2008 the company's products are used on a number of commercial shipping fleets to monitor emissions, and from 2010 until 2011 have been used to increase traveller safety at Glasgow airport

Submitting Institution

University of Strathclyde

Unit of Assessment

Physics

Summary Impact Type

Technological

Research Subject Area(s)

Physical Sciences: Atomic, Molecular, Nuclear, Particle and Plasma Physics, Other Physical Sciences
Chemical Sciences: Other Chemical Sciences

Novel light sources and the economic success of Fianium Ltd

Summary of the impact

Research by Bath physicists into non-linear effects in optical fibres has led directly to the development of a new technology: bright white light ("supercontinuum") lasers which remove the need for multiple single wavelength laser systems in low power applications. Based on a successful collaboration with Bath, these lasers are marketed by Fianium Ltd (est. 2003). Since 2008 Fianium has expanded greatly [text removed for publication]. In recognition of this success, Fianium received the Queen's Award for Enterprise in both 2009 and 2012. Bath physicists and Fianium continue to engage in knowledge exchange projects which has resulted in over £1M of DTI/TSB investment funding, [text removed for publication].

Submitting Institution

University of Bath

Unit of Assessment

Physics

Summary Impact Type

Technological

Research Subject Area(s)

Physical Sciences: Atomic, Molecular, Nuclear, Particle and Plasma Physics, Optical Physics, Other Physical Sciences

UOA09-05: How to build a particle accelerator

Summary of the impact

This outreach event presents the principles and applications of particle accelerators. It has resulted in increased interest in and knowledge of particle accelerators by over 7,700 schoolchildren; greater knowledge and ability of schoolteachers to incorporate content, demonstrations and experiments related to accelerator science into their teaching; and wider awareness in the general public of many kinds of particle accelerators and their uses (e.g. in medicine and industry). The beneficiaries extend beyond audiences of shows presented by the University of Oxford through delivery by other institutions in the UK and Germany, and downloads of online material.

Submitting Institution

University of Oxford

Unit of Assessment

Physics

Summary Impact Type

Societal

Research Subject Area(s)

Physical Sciences: Atomic, Molecular, Nuclear, Particle and Plasma Physics, Other Physical Sciences

UOA09-08: LX SPIDER ultrashort laser pulse measurement device

Summary of the impact

Invented at the University of Oxford, an instrument for measuring the temporal shape of ultrashort laser pulses has delivered new capabilities for users and manufacturers of short-pulse lasers. The device, the LX SPIDER, is smaller, cheaper and more sensitive than its predecessor. Its impact has been realised by licensing patented technology to APE GmbH, who brought the LX SPIDER to market in 2008. Customers are from industrial and research institutions globally and the device has brought benefits to users in a variety of sectors including materials processing and biomedical diagnostics. It is also used by manufacturers of pulsed lasers in the specification, verification and installation of their laser products.

Submitting Institution

University of Oxford

Unit of Assessment

Physics

Summary Impact Type

Technological

Research Subject Area(s)

Physical Sciences: Optical Physics
Technology: Communications Technologies

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