Final Year Project (3^rd and 4^th year students in University of Bath)

Impact of thermal treatment on plasmonics in gold nanogratings
Students: Robbie Crowe, Esme Votta
Duration: 10/2019 - 05/2020

The field of plasmonics exploits the unique optical properties of metallic nanostructures to control and manipulate light at the nanoscale. Unlike glass, metals such as gold have a negative dielectric function, which allows them to support collective electron excitations known as ‘surface plasmons’. These resonances produce extremely high local electric field intensities in localised regions. One key advantage of plasmonic devices is that they have the ability to confine light to volumes that are much smaller than its wavelength. This is very useful for many nanoscale applications, e.g single-molecule spectroscopy.
The aims of this project are first to perform crystallization and surface evolution studies of gold films annealed at different temperatures and then to investigate plasmonic properties of gold nanogratings annealed in similar conditions. The main characterisation methods in this project will be Scanning Tunnelling Microscopy (STM), Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and high-resolution optical polarisation microscopy. In practice, the student(s) will be heating up various samples in a high-temperature furnace (or oven) to a set of temperatures. At each temperatures, SEM, AFM and optical characterization will be performed to track the evolution of the samples as re-shaping takes place.

Final Year Project (3^rd and 4^th year students in University of Bath)

Steampunk Science
Students: Frazier Carr and James Kenny
Duration: 10/2015 - 05/2016

This project aims to combine Victorian engineering with state-of-the-art NanoPhotonics, making Steampunk Science a reality. You would be building a NanoPhotonic steam engine.
     Small gold nanoparticles absorb light extremely efficiently at specific wavelengths due to the surface plasmon resonances of electrons that can be excited by laser light. As a result of the absorption of light, the nanoparticles heat up. This heating process finds applications in photo therapies, ex. for cancer treatment. Moreover, it has recently been found that such nanoparticles, when irradiated, can create steam micro-bubbles. In this project, you would be exploring the optical heating mechanism that is important for medicine and you will be searching to optimise it in a fun way, by making a light-powered steam engine.

Final Year Project (3^rd and 4^th year students in University of Bath)

Create a physics lecture to be delivered by a robot
Students: Hajah Fatin Ameera Binti Hj Mohd Yaakub and Erwandi Haji Harun
Duration: 10/2015 - 05/2016

By now, you know everything about being a physics student. Perhaps it is time to learn something about teaching physics? Your task would be to program a robot to deliver a physics lecture on the subject of your choice. However, the robot cannot be employed simply as a puppet. Instead, you must use its motors, sensors and indicators to illustrate the physical concepts being taught; beyond this constraint, the only limit is your creativity.
Your robotic assistant will be Nao Evolution, the latest generation of humanoid robot from Aldebaran Robotics. The lecture can be directed at all levels, from primary school to university courses. As such, it can become part of our ongoing Education Outreach activities to schools or our university lectures. There is also interest from the University Media services to make a University promotional video on your work  with the robot.
As a lecture is a linear sequence of event, the coding part itself is very straightforward. Only basic coding skills are required to operate Choreographe - the dedicated language from Aldebaran Robotics.

Final Year Project  (3^rd and 4^th year students in University of Bath)

Steampunk Science
Students: Samuel Buck and Scott Harrison
Duration: 10/2014 - 05/2015

This project aims to combine Victorian engineering with state-of-the-art NanoPhotonics, making Steampunk Science a reality. You would be building a NanoPhotonic steam engine.
     Small gold nanoparticles absorb light extremely efficiently at specific wavelengths due to the surface plasmon resonances of electrons that can be excited by laser light. As a result of the absorption of light, the nanoparticles heat up. This heating process finds applications in photo therapies, ex. for cancer treatment. Moreover, it has recently been found that such nanoparticles, when irradiated, can create steam micro-bubbles. In this project, you would be exploring the optical heating mechanism that is important for medicine and you will be searching to optimise it in a fun way, by making a light-powered steam engine.

Final Year Project  (3^rd and 4^th year students in University of Bath)

Solve an experimental puzzle and 3D print new, improved parts
Students: Eimear Finnemore and Palak Wadhwa
Duration: 10/2014 - 05/2015

Nowadays, experts in state-of-the-art optical microscopy techniques are highly attractive not only to physics research but also to the material and medical industries. Not surprisingly, the best way to understand these microscopes and become an expert is to assemble a microscope from its constitutive parts, finding out how all the parts work together in the process.
     In this project we are looking for a keen experimentalist who would assist us in putting together a Zeiss LSM-META scanning confocal microscope from disassembled parts. You would learn the principles of microscopy and how to operate the microscope. You will also be required to 3D print various microscope parts and compare your products to the commercial ones.
     More generally, you would be encouraged to explore how 3D printing could be useful in a nanophotonic research laboratory.

Part III Physics, Projects. (4^th year students in Cambridge University)

Plasmon-enhanced optical-pumped steam-based nanohydraulics
Laboratory of Prof J Baumberg: Physics (Nanophotonics)
Duration: 02/12/2013 - 25/07/2014

Abstract:
This project looks to bring Victorian engineering into state-of-the-art NanoPhotonics, making "nano-steampunk" a reality. Small gold nanoparticles absorb light extremely strongly at specific wavelengths due to the surface plasmon resonances that can be excited by the resonant oscillations of electrons. It has recently been found that such nanoparticles are enormously efficient at creating steam microbubbles in water when irradiated, and in this project you would harness this energy to make light-powered steam engine. The potential application is to actuate mechanisms at the nanoscale using this reversibly-created optical pressure and you would explore the optimum way to achieve this.

Nano Doctoral Training Centre Project (4^th year students in Cambridge University)