Ultra-compact chromatic confocal sensor implementing metasurfaces for rapid surface topography evaluation using coordinate measuring machines

As part of the £5.5M EPSRC grant, ‘Next Generation Metrology Driven by Nanophotonics’ awarded to the Universities of Huddersfield and Southampton, we are offering a funded PhD opportunity and are interested in finding UK applicants with 2:1 degree or above in Physics, Mathematics, Engineering or a related discipline and with and interest in the areas of optical metamaterials, nanophotonics and instrumentation.

This PhD project will be hosted at the Centre for Precision Technologies (CPT) which is also leading the recently announced EPSRC Sustainable Manufacturing Hub for Advanced Metrology. This Hub will develop ground-breaking new technologies, such as ultra-fast and compact sensors using nanophotonic metamaterials and quantum sensors, to improve resource efficiency and productivity across the range of sectors which rely on precision manufacturing.

Ultra-compact chromatic confocal sensor implementing metasurfaces for rapid surface topography evaluation using coordinate measuring machines

Synopsis – This project will build upon initial demonstrations of a metasurface based compact chromatic confocal sensor, developing it into an optimised device, suitable for use in real-world applications and characterising its performance. This project will build on an novel concept based on standalone metasurfaces to a form where all of the elements are realised in one robust monolithic device, attached directly to the end of an optical fibre to form an ultra-compact probe capable of making form and surface measurements on difficult to access structures such as boreholes.

This is a 4 year funded Industrial Case project, co-sponsored by EPSRC and Renishaw plc. This project also offers the option to undertake an industrial placement with Renishaw as part of the programme of study.

Rapid, non-contact, surface topography evaluation probes in a form factor compact enough for integration with coordinate measurement machine (CMM) probe systems represent a technology gap for which the market has yet to provide a robust solution. Non-contact scanning systems currently tend to rely on machine vision or fringe projection which can provide some analysis of form/waviness but struggle to achieve sufficient resolution for surface roughness analysis. Non-contact probes tend to be vision system based and are of such a size that important commercial measurement applications involving difficult access e.g. boreholes cannot be facilitated with these technologies.

This research project will investigate the potential of using a metasurface based chromatic confocal sensors as an ultra-compact, non-contact, touch probe alternative, building on our initial proof-of-concept demonstration of this work. This project will investigate how photonic metasurfaces can be used to achieve the necessary miniaturisation of both the probe and interrogation apparatus. The project will also investigate how the incorporation of metasurfaces into an optical measurement system impact on the metrological characteristics, especially in relation to environmental stability. Opportunities for photonic metasurfaces to support miniaturisation of the spectral interrogation required for CCS, as part of a hybrid optical system will also be investigated.

The successful candidate for this research project will have a solid background in optical engineering (or another closely related engineering discipline). Experience in building/maintaining optical apparatus, electronic design and programming would also be advantageous.

While the role is situated at the University of Huddersfield, the programme will involve close collaboration with our partners at the University of Southampton’s Optoelectronics Research Centre, and so the applicant should be comfortable working in a team environment in order to contribute to a larger project.

This opportunity is fully-funded, including support for tuition fees and an enhanced stipend of £22,237 per annum.

Please note that this PhD is open to UK students only.

 Formal applications and enquiries

Interested applicants should email [email protected] with a CV and covering letter by Friday 1^st November detailing education history and highlighting any relevant experience.

Informal enquiries can be directed to either Prof. Jane Jiang ([email protected]) or Dr Andrew Henning ([email protected])

Further Information about the Research Groups

The EPSRC programme ‘Next Generation Metrology Driven by Nanophotonics’ is a collaboration between the Centre for Precision Technologies (University of Huddersfield) and the Optoelectronics Research Centre (University of Southampton).

Centre for Precision Technologies (CPT)

https://research.hud.ac.uk/institutes-centres/cpt/

The CPT is a centre of excellence for collaborative metrology solving real-world manufacturing problems through cutting edge metrology research in precision engineering, maintaining strong industrial connections with >100 companies. Its research, over more than two decades, has provided modern, cutting-edge measurement theory and technologies for dimensional and surface texture, machine performance; and mathematics for measurement.

Operating at the forefront of new measurement techniques, we apply novel measurement concepts to solve real world metrology problems. Highly innovative research and strong links with industry resulted in the EPSRC designating the CPT as a National Centre of Excellence in Advanced Metrology in 2011. Building on this success, CPT was awarded a £13M grant by EPSRC to create a Future Manufacturing Research Hub in 2017. Headed by Professor Dame Xiangqian (Jane) Jiang, the Future Metrology Hub’s focus is to transform the UK’s manufacturing performance by delivering technologies that provide significant improvements in the speed, accuracy and cost of measurement.

In 2022 the CPT was awarded the Queen’s Anniversary Prize which recognised the innovative and ground-breaking work in advanced measurement for smart manufacturing.

In May 2024 it was announced that the CPT will lead one of five of the next generation of Sustainable Manufacturing Hubs. The Advanced Metrology Sustainable Manufacturing Hub will be a National Centre of Excellence for research into manufacturing metrology. The Hub links the CPT with other leading institutions such as: University of Oxford; University of Southampton; Queen’s University, Belfast; University of Sheffield; National Physical Laboratory to drive forward metrology research with the aim of addressing sustainability in manufacturing.

Optoelectronics Research Centre (ORC)

https://www.orc.soton.ac.uk/who-we-are

The ORC is the UK’s largest and one of the world’s leading photonics research institutes, with the ORC’s Nanophotonics & Metamaterials group being recognised for setting and leading the international agenda in its field. In 2017, the UoS received a Queen’s Anniversary Prize for decades of innovative leadership in the field for “Innovations in photonics that enhance the global fibre internet, laser manufacturing, next generation computing and new optical technologies”.