PhD in Optics

Light is a transverse wave and normally we think of its polarisation states as being linear, elliptical or circular. Controlling the polarisation, and hence the electric field, of light allows us to manipulate electrons in matter for scientific research and many applications (e.g. LCD displays and 3D glasses). Ultrashort, intense laser pulses are particularly interesting as the strength of electric field allows new phenomena to be investigated, such as using lasers for particle acceleration.