PhD opportunities in laser engineering at
the University of Liverpool

•  Three year full-time tailored programme of PhD research in Laser Engineering
•  Contribute to how lasers are transforming the modern world
•  Study in a top rated (RAE 5*A) research environment
•  Applications are invited from candidates with (or expecting to gain) a first degree at 2.1(Hons) or better in any engineering or science discipline
• EPSRC Studentships (to cover fees and maintenance) available to UK based applicants

•  Currently, we are particularly interested in offering programmes in the areas of:

  • laser welding
  • laser forming
  • laser direct fabrication
  • laser cleaning
  • sensing and control of laser processes
  • laser microfabrication
  • Optical trapping

  We are also interested in hearing form candidates with an interest in the FE modelling or mathematical modelling of laser processes.

•  CURRENT OFFERS

  • Ultrafast Laser Microstructuring of Materials
    
    
• APPLICATIONS
  • Enquiries about the programmes can be made to the Contacts listed at the end of the details of each of the projects.
  • Further details of Post Graduate study in the Department of Engineering including Reseach Project details can be found here
  • Details of How to apply for postgraduate study can be found on the University of Liverpool website which includes a downloadable application form in pdf format and links to information about studying at the University.

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Position: PhD RESEARCH PROJECT

Ultrafast Laser Microstructuring of Materials

K G Watkins, Laser Group, Department of Engineering

The recent development of ultrafast lasers with pulse length in the picosecond and femtosecond range has opened up the possibility of laser-materials interactions in which the time constant for the interaction is so short that thermal effects can be neglected, allowing material structuring or material removal with minimal damage. At the same time the high beam quality of such laser types allows fine focussing for the production of features at the micron scale. This is leading to means for the production of micro components with new functionality such as, for example, subsurface microfluidic channels for use in lab on a chip, the direct writing of Bragg gratings for in situ stress sensing via optical fibres or the development of subsurface microstructuring for embedded security marking. Underlying this is the need for a fundamental study of the mechanisms involved in material alteration and removal in the pico or femto time domains in the range of materials of choice for these applications taking into account both surface and subsurface effects. Modelling of the laser materials interactions will also play a significant role in the work. This will form the basis of the proposed PhD training. Excellent facilities will be available for the carrying out of this work, including use of a turnkey femtosecond laser, a Clarke-MXR 2010 system, based on chirped pulse amplification and a picosecond laser system, to be newly purchased as a result of a recent NWSF award. It is envisaged that there will be strong interaction with University of Manchester throughout the project. Post process materials characterisation will be available.

CONTACT:
Professor K G Watkins (Director)
Laser Engineering Group
Department of Engineering
University of Liverpool
Brownlow Street
Liverpool
L69 3GH

Phone: 0151 794 4820
Fax: 0151 794 4585

email: k.watkins@liv.ac.uk

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