Resume

• 2006

  Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

  Physics

  Queen's University Belfast

• 2002

  MSci

  Physics

  Queen's University Belfast

• 1999

  St MacNissi's College

• 1997

  Dartford Grammar School

• Dimensional metrology

  We help organisations conform to precise dimensional requirements and help manufacturers develop

  optimise and quality control their products

  Dimensional surface metrology

  We develop innovative ways to quantify the dimensional characteristics of both the external surfaces and internal features of parts

  Dimensional surface metrology

  Active Plasmonics :: Welcome

  Electronic and All-optical Control of Photonic Signals on Sub-wavelength Scale

  Surface Metrology

  Physics

  Interferometry

  SEM

  COMSOL

  Characterization

  Experimentation

  Science

  Microscopy

  Materials Science

  Clean Rooms

  Nanotechnology

  PVD

  Raman

  Spectroscopy

  Optics

  Simulations

  FIB

  Matlab

  AFM

  Spin–orbit coupling in surface plasmon scattering by nanostructures

  The spin Hall effect leads to the separation of electrons with opposite spins in different directions perpendicular to the electric current flow because of interaction between spin and orbital angular momenta. Similarly

  photons with opposite spins (different handedness of circular light polarization) may take different trajectories when interacting with metasurfaces that break spatial inversion symmetry or when the inversion symmetry is broken by the radiation of a dipole near an interface. Here we demonstrate a reciprocal effect of spin–orbit coupling when the direction of propagation of a surface plasmon wave

  which intrinsically has unusual transverse spin

  determines a scattering direction of spin-carrying photons. This spin–orbit coupling effect is an optical analogue of the spin injection in solid-state spintronic devices (inverse spin Hall effect) and may be important for optical information processing

  quantum optical technology and topological surface metrology.

  Spin–orbit coupling in surface plasmon scattering by nanostructures

  Wayne Dickson

  The requirements for spatial and temporal manipulation of electromagnetic fields on the nanoscale have recently resulted in an ever-increasing use of plasmonics for achieving various functionalities with superior performance to those available from conventional photonics. For these applications

  ohmic losses resulting from free-electron scattering in the metal is one major limitation for the performance of plasmonic structures. In the low-frequency regime

  ohmic losses can be reduced at low temperatures. In this work

  we study the effect of temperature on the optical response of different plasmonic nanostructures and show that the extinction of a plasmonic nanorod metamaterial can be efficiently controlled with temperature with transmission changes by nearly a factor of 10 between room and liquid nitrogen temperatures

  while temperature effects in plasmonic crystals are relatively weak (transmission changes only up to 20%). Because of the different nature of the plasmonic interactions in these types of plasmonic nanostructures

  drastically differing responses (increased or decreased extinction) to temperature change were observed despite identical variations of the metal’s permittivity.

  Low-temperature plasmonics of metallic nanostructures

  Alejandro Martínez

  Giuseppe Marino

  Wave interference is a fundamental manifestation of the superposition principle with numerous applications. Although in conventional optics

  interference occurs between waves undergoing different phase advances during propagation

  we show that the vectorial structure of the near field of an emitter is essential for controlling its radiation as it interferes with itself on interaction with a mediating object. We demonstrate that the near-field interference of a circularly polarized dipole results in the unidirectional excitation of guided electromagnetic modes in the near field

  with no preferred far-field radiation direction. By mimicking the dipole with a single illuminated slit in a gold film

  we measured unidirectional surface-plasmon excitation in a spatially symmetric structure. The surface wave direction is switchable with the polarization.

  Near-field interference for the unidirectional excitation of electromagnetic guided modes

  This project aims to develop a capability to directly correlate defect type with performance loss in plastic electronic devices and to implement fast

  large-area measurement methods towards the in-line monitoring of topographical defects.\n\n

  Active Plasmonics

  The Active Plasmonics project aims to unlock plasmonics' potential for improvement of real-world photonic and optoelectronic devices and provide insight into physical phenomena which are important for various areas of optical physics and photonic technologies.

  Metrology for Highly Parallel Manufacturing

  MetHPM will deliver targeted inline metrology tools for defect detection

  substrate tracking and critical dimension measurement for efficient diagnostic activity and process feedback

  including the measurement traceability and standards for such metrology tools.

  NANOMend

  NanoMend aims to pioneer novel technologies for in-line detection

  cleaning and repair of micro and nano scale defects for thin films coated on large area substrates. Examples include thin films used in the production of packaging materials

  flexible solar panels

  lighting and indoor and outdoor digital signage and displays.

  BONAS

  BONAS (BOmb factory detection by Networks of Advanced Sensors) is a security themed project which aims to combine different sensor technologies in a large scale network to remotely detect explosive precursors released by bomb factories.

  Daniel

  O'Connor

  University of North Florida

  King's College London

  Queen's University Belfast

  National Physical Laboratory (NPL)

  Dimensional Metrology Group

  I am the lead research scientist in the surface metrology sub-theme of dimensional metrology at NPL. \nI lead and oversee the work of 4 research staff and 3 measurement service staff. \nI am also responsible for the management of related research and measurement services infrastructure including safety and upkeep of cleanroom practices (4 laboratories in total)

  Senior Research Scientist

  National Physical Laboratory (NPL)

  Experimental Biophysics & Nanotechnology group

  Here my work mainly revolved around the experimental investigation of fundamental plasmonic phenomena.

  Postdoctoral Research Associate

  King's College London

  Dimensional Metrology Group

  During this appointment I implemented optical systems for defect detection

  critical dimension measurement and position referencing (feature registration) in products manufactured at high speed using roll to roll processes.\n\nAlso

  I researched methods to enable surface/function correlation studies. These allowed tolerances to be placed on a products dimensional parameters in order to achieve a desired level of function.

  Higher Research Scientist

  National Physical Laboratory (NPL)

  Nano-Optics and Near-Field Spectroscopy group

  Here I continued to develop numerical models for the study of fundamental plasmonic phenomena.

  Postdoctoral Research Assistant

  Queen's University Belfast

  Physics department

  As part of this J1 visa exchange programme promoting knowledge transfer between the USA and UK my role mainly involved undergraduate teaching. I ran the following courses:\n \nOptics: A course consisting of both lectures and hands on learning for higher level Physics students beginning with a revision of Maxwell's equations and ending with the interaction of light with matter.\nIntroduction to Physics lab: An introductory lab course encompassing the experimental history of Physics.\nPhysics lab II: A more advanced lab course for developing fundamental experimental skills.

  Visiting Assistant Professor

  University of North Florida