Team

“I am a physicist at the University of Exeter I lead the photmat team. My background is in controlling light at the nanoscale, especially through the use of nanostructured metals – plasmonics. I have a long-standing interest in the way light and molecules interact, and this project is the culmination of more than 30 years research. I am delighted to have a dynamic team of researchers working with me at Exeter, together with a slew of colleagues in many countries with whom to collaborate”.

My project is about studying microwave metamaterial analogues of molecular systems. I am interested in looking at the difference between metamolecules and real molecules. I am also keen to explore time-parity violation using metamaterials.

For my Masters project “Plasmonics and Metamaterial” I worked on the experimental study of localized surface plasmon resonances in the Electrical Department, IIT Madras, India. I obtained my PhD from the University of Exeter in October 2019 under the supervision of Prof. Bill Barnes and Prof. Geoff Nash, where I was primarily interested in exploring strong coupling between the vibrational modes of molecules and infra-red surface plasmons. My PhD was part of a CDT in metamaterials. Currently, I am working as a postdoctoral research fellow with Prof. Bill Barnes on ‘Synthetic Biological Control of Quantum Optics’ in collaboration with Prof. Graham J Leggett of the University of Sheffield.

I completed my PhD in Manchester, where I studied the optical properties of nanostructures comprised of metallic (plasmonic) nanostructures and two-dimensional materials. In Exeter I am continuing to investigate the interaction of light and matter on the nanoscale with a particular focus on nanostructured organic materials. I am particularly interested in studying these materials using Fourier plane imaging and ellipsometry.

Adarsh Vasista has a wealth of experience in optics, plasmonics and the emission of light by molecules. He obtained his PhD from from IISER Pune. Adarsh is working on both strong and weak coupling effects, at the moment in 2D materials. He is also a poet and a writer.

Ian has expertise that ranges across many aspects of the photmat project. He is particularly strongly involved in the microwave metamaterials aspects.

Our project would not be possible without many superb support staff. These include people in finance, our European research office and many more. The team in the picture provide fantastic technical support without which much of our experimental work would not be possible. From left to right they are: Paul Wilkins, Pete Savage, Nick Cole, and James Rutley.

I am particularly interested in nanophotonics using 2-D materials such as graphene, hexagonal Boron Nitride and transition metal dichalcogenides.

Henry’s interests were in strong coupling of molecules, including chiral molecules. He devoted much of his time to experiments searching to see if strong coupling can influence charge transport in organic semiconductors. Henry left photmat in September 2019 to take up a post-doc position in Finland.

Rachel was part of a masters project looling at cm-scale analogues of molecular systems. What interested me about this project was that it provided a great opportunity to do some experimental physics, but also has plenty of scope for both theoretical and computational analysis. Rachel left the photmat team in June 2019, she is now working for a PhD in the Netherlands, in the Photonics Integration group at the Technical University of Eindhoven.

Aleks was part of a masters project looling at cm scale analogues of molecular systems. Aleks left the photmat team in June 2019, she is now working for a PhD at ETH Zurich in the Mesoscopic Systems group.

Leanne was part of a masters project looling at cm-scale analogues of molecular systems. This project appealed to me because I have a strong interest in how we can apply theoretical knowledge to improve our understanding of real world phenomena. Leanne left the photmat team in June 2019, she is now working for a PhD in the XM2 Metamaterials Centre in Exeter.

Ben was part of a masters project looling at cm-scale analogues of molecular systems. Having previously gone down an astrophysics route, this project presented an exciting chance for Ben to get hands on and work at centimetre scales, instead of parsecs! Ben left the photmat team in June 2019.

Sathya’s project was about exploring the interacitons between different microwave meta-atoms. This forms the basis of investigating the use of structures such as chains of split-ring resonators to mimic molecules. Sathya now works for an Oxford-based company, Metaboards.