News archive

16 February 2021
Southampton photonics expert appointed as Editor-in-Chief of international lasers and optics journal
Dr Jacob Mackenzie
Dr Jacob Mackenzie from the Zepler Institute for Photonics and Nanoelectronics has been appointed as Editor-in-Chief of the highly respected Applied Physics B journal.Jacob is an Associate Professor in the Optoelectronics Research Centre (ORC) at the University of Southampton, where he leads the Planar Waveguide and Slab Lasers (PWSL) research group working on novel laser gain-materials and architectures.Applied Physics B is one of the leading international, peer-reviewed journals...
16 February 2021
Silicon photonics platform redefines 3D imaging performance
An exercise ball and screen at 40m taken using a 32x16 pixel sensor
Scientists at the Optoelectronics Research Centre and Pointcloud Inc in San Francisco have developed a compact LiDAR system for machines to accurately see a three-dimensional world in motion.The low-cost solution could pave the way for large volume production of low-cost, compact and high-performance 3D imaging cameras for use in robotics, autonomous navigation systems, the mapping of building sites and healthcare.The latest tests of...
10 February 2021
Distinguished Southampton graduate shares vision as 'Hope Probe' reaches red planet's orbit
Southampton ORC alumnus Dr Mohammed Al Ahbabi
Optoelectronics Research Centre alumnus Dr Mohammed Nasser Al Ahbabi says he hopes that the historic achievements of the Emirates Mars Mission can inspire more positive change in the region.The Director General of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Space Agency, who completed an MSc and PhD in Southampton, has spoken after the 'Hope Probe' reached the planet's orbit to capture a first complete picture of the Martian atmosphere.The fully autonomous spacecraft...
09 February 2021
Southampton STEM activities spark home schooling fun for young learners
'STEM at Home' series showing how to build a battery from materials at home
Researchers from the Zepler Institute for Photonics and Nanoelectronics have created a week-long programme of online science and engineering activities to inspire young people during the pandemic.The STEM at Home series, developed by the University of Southampton's Centre for Electronics Frontiers (CEF), has been shared with over 2,000 schools across the UK with support from the Royal Academy for Engineering.The interactive...
09 February 2021
Southampton laser pioneer acclaimed with international optics and photonics prize
Professor Anne Tropper
Professor Anne Tropper has been honoured with the 2021 SPIE Maiman Laser Award for pioneering contributions during a dynamic research career at the University of Southampton.Anne is a founding member of the Optoelectronics Research Centre, based in the Zepler Institute for Photonics and Nanoelectronics, and maintains her longstanding connection with Southampton to this day as an Emeritus Professor.The prestigious honour from the international society for optics and photonics...
27 January 2021
Obituary for Professor Alec Gambling - first Director of Southampton's Optoelectronics Centre
Professor Alec Gambling
It is with great sadness that we report the passing of Professor Alec Gambling aged 94 at his home in Spain on Jan 9, 2021. He was one of the founders of photonics at Southampton in the early 1960s and the first Director of the ORC in 1989. He also held the positions of Head of the Department of Electronics and Dean of Engineering at Southampton.Professor William Alec Gambling was one of the pioneers worldwide in the development and use of optical fibre communications. He...

The Zepler Institute is a community of researchers from the University of Southampton’s Optoelectronics Research Centre, Electronics and Electrical Engineering Group, Nanoelectronics and Nanotechnology Group and Quantum Light and Matter Group