
Related departments
We conducts extensive research into the design, growth and fabrication of semiconductor and optical devices on the nanometer scale using techniques ranging from MOCVD growth to ion beam processing. Such devices by virtue of their scale, exploit quantum effects to enhance their performance. A large part of this research program focuses on quantum well lasers and detectors of importance to the telecommunications industry.
We also research the nanoscale modification of bulk materials such as nanocrystals within semiconductors induced by ion irradiation. materials modified in this way can have unusual and technologically useful properties such as light emission at wavelengths incompatible with the bulk material band structure.
Nanotubes as their name suggests are microscopically small pipes of material such as carbon - like an elongated form of a "buckie ball". These have exciting properties such as unimaginably high tensile strengths and the School has an active research program on the efficient production of nanotubes by mechano chemistry.
Potential student research projects
You could be doing your own research into fusion and plasma confinement. Below are some examples of student physics research projects available in RSPE.

Fundamental investigation of fission tracks for geo- and thermochronology
Study the formation and stability of high energy ion tracks in minerals under controlled environments with importance for geological dating techniques.

Nanowire photodetectors - Small devices for the big world
Semiconductor nanowires are emerging nano-materials with substantial opportunities for novel photonic and electronic device applications. This project aims at developing a new generation of high performance NW based photodetectors for a wide range of applications.

Singling out the depletion region in semiconductor devices by scanning electron microscopy
Scanning electron microscopy is a powerful tool for materials and this method is believed to correctly identify depletion regions in semiconductor devices. This project links the electron microscopy contrast to the depletion regions measured by capacitance-voltage...

Achieving ultra-low contact resistance for next generation semiconductor devices
Contact resistance is becoming a major limitation to device performance and new strategies are required to meet the needs of next-generation devices. Existing contacts typically exploit the thermal and chemical stability of silicide/Si interfaces...

Ultra-compact nanowire lasers for application in nanophotonics
This project aims to investigate the concepts and strategies required to produce electrically injected semiconductor nanowire lasers by understanding light interaction in nanowires, designing appropriate structures to inject current, engineer the optical...

Electromagnetic metamaterials
Metamaterials are complex structures whose electromagnetic parameters can be engineered. We have several theoretical and experimental projects aiming to design artificial materials that exhibit properties not found in nature.
Please browse our full list of available physics research projects to find a student research project that interests you.
Updated: 4 September 2019/ Responsible Officer: Director, RSPhys/ Page Contact: Physics Webmaster