Electrical Systems and Optics

The University of Nottingham has a long history of working with Cummins Generator Technologies on a wide range of electrical machines-related projects. It is as a result of this successful collaborative research, that Cummins have established this innovation Centre in electrical machine technology.

The Centre pulls together academic staff and researchers with a range of allied engineering expertise to form a true multidisciplinary team which can effectively and holistically look at electrical machine systems and their integration within high-performance applications.

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A world leader in the application of optical, ultrasonic and instrumentation engineering, the Applied Optics Group conducts multidisciplinary research spanning physical scales from the sub-molecular to the largest structures in the solar system. The Group host two platform grants in Bioimaging and Advanced Ultrasonics. Research falls into four broad areas, with much interdisciplinary work across the Group:

• biomedical applications
• integrated sensors
• laser ultrasonics
• microscopy and optical techniques

The Group’s extensive facilities – which include three state-of-the-art optics laboratories, a wide range of electronic and VLSI design facilities, the Applied Ultrasonics Laboratory, and the Space Integrated Optical Sensors (SIOS) laboratory – provide an exceptional environment for developing innovative technologies.

Members of the Applied Optics Group are involved the Institute of Biophysics, Imaging and Optical Science.

The George Green Institute for Electromagnetics Research (GGIEMR) was established in 2004, as a result of many years of Electromagnetics research at the University of Nottingham. The Institute is named after George Green (14th July 1793 – 31st March 1841), a Nottingham scientist, whose work has influenced generations of engineers worldwide. Engineering work has a long tradition in Nottingham and the Institute was founded with the aim of establishing a focus for the electromagnetic design of systems especially at high frequencies and of fostering multi-disciplinary work. The official launch of the Institute by the Vice Chancellor, Professor Sir Colin Campbell, took place on March 19th 2004 in the presence of distinguished guests.

The main theme of the work of the Institute is the development of predictive techniques for electromagnetic design which take full advantage of the systematic analytical work going back two centuries, and the more recent developments in numerical modelling and simulation using computational platforms. The rapid development of clocked digital systems operating in the Gigahertz range, extensive wireless and broadband technologies and their introduction to virtually every engineering device or system, has generated an urgent need to understand and design systems operating at microwave or optical frequencies. At these frequencies traditional lumped circuit descriptions (network paradigm) are inadequate and engineering intuition needs to be underpinned by suitable numerical models of systems based on Maxwell’s equation (field paradigm). It is in this area that the Institute is positioned. The Institute maintains a varied portfolio of research work and collaborates with many different agencies to support its work.

The vision of the Institute encompasses research into modelling techniques which bridge on the one hand conventional engineering macromodels with atomistic models at the micro and nano scale, and on the other, the behaviour of a collection of systems and their inherent complexity.

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The Institute develops novel imaging technologies to investigate biological problems from the molecular level upwards. Research combines expertise in cellular biology and optical imaging technology across four main areas:

• advanced imaging techniques
• cell biology and biophysics
• custom CMOS camera development
• neurophotonics

Current projects are developing groundbreaking equipment to monitor and repair damaged nervous tissue and combat viral infections.

Researchers have access to state-of-the-art resources including optical microscopy and scanning probe systems, biological and chemical laboratories, as well as the engineering capabilities required to custom-build innovative equipment and systems.

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The Group pursues cutting-edge research in photonics and microwaves, with a focus on device technologies. It brings together a dynamic team of academics from around the globe, and has impressively equipped research laboratories to support its work. Its innovative activity in communications, high-speed electronics and high-power laser diodes is organised along three strands:

• high-power optoelectronics
• photonic communications technology
• RF devices, circuits and materials

The Group also conducts novel research through well-established collaborations with leading research laboratories and industrial partners across Europe. Much of the group's work is multidisciplinary in nature and cuts across a number of University research bodies.

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One of the largest research groups in its field worldwide, the Power Electronics, Machines and Control Group has world leading research activities across a range of fields including:

• Power Electronic Energy Conversion, Conditioning and Control
• Power Electronics Integration, Packaging and Thermal Management
• Motor Drives and Motor Control
• Electrical Machines.

The Group works extensively with industrial partners applying the core technologies and expertise in areas such as Aerospace Electrical Systems and Equipment, Renewable and Sustainable Energy, Marine Systems, Industrial Drive Systems and Pulsed Power Converters.

Research in the Group ranges from basic technology investigation to fully engineered advanced concept demonstrators and is underpinned by world class experimental and workshop facilities allowing realistic practical validation of novel components and systems. The Group has been recognised as an EU Marie Curie Training Centre.

[ Go to Group Site ]