News and Events
Funded PhD positions available in Physics
Funded PhD positions are available to work with Emma MacPherson on "Fast Terahertz Imaging and Spectroscopy", and with James Lloyd-Hughes on "Ultrafast terahertz spectroscopy of novel perovskite photovoltaics". Please get in touch if you are interested in a PhD or MSc by Research in the group. These are funded studentships lasting 3.5 years, and are available to UK and EU students. For more details please see the Physics Postgraduate admissions page.
IR beamline aces reproducibility
The IR beamline has been undergoing rigourous refining and further testing and has beautifully reproduced data from published results. See the results gallery to view this new exciting data of N-methyl pyridone in ACN excited at 267 nm.
Terahertz spectroscopy of anisotropic materials using beams with rotatable polarization
C. D. W. Mosley, M. Failla, D. Prabhakaran and J. Lloyd-Hughes Scientific Reports 7 12337 (2017) [ref]
THz spectroscopy in full swing
The Optical pump Terahertz probe beamline is in full swing, with UV, visible, and IR excitation options. Check out our latest results in the results gallery, including a benchmark of picosecond conductivity dynamics in partially crystalline GaAs.
IR beamline produces first results
The Infrared transient absorption beamline has output its first real data! Check it out at the results gallery.
First Step toward a Universal Fluorescent Probe: Unravelling the Photodynamics of an Amino–Maleimide Fluorophore
Michael Staniforth, Wen-Dong Quan, Tolga N. V. Karsili, Lewis A. Baker, Rachel K. O’Reilly, and Vasilios G. Stavros
J. Phys. Chem. A, 121:6357 (August 2017)
WCUS and affiliates publish a brand new work in which we discuss fluorescence quenching in a small, single moleucle fluorophore, and how learning the mechanism of this quenching can aid us in future design of new fluorescent tags.
WCUS conference season - Optical Terahertz Science and Technology, UCL, 2-7th April.
WCUS members attended the Optical Terahertz Science and Technology meeting at UCL on 2-7th April, 2017. James lloyd-Hughes presented his findings on "Colossal terahertz magnetoresistance at room temperature in oxide nanocolumns."
Elucidating nuclear motions in a plant sunscreen during photoisomerization through solvent viscosity effects
M. D. Horbury, W.-D. Quan, A. L. Flourat, F. Allais and V. G. Stavros. Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys. (2017) 19, 21127-21131 [ref]
Optical pump, terahertz probe spectrometer
The optical pump, terahertz probe spectrometer is up and running! Thanks to Maurizio and Mick for their hard work on the setup for this beamline and for testing it. Currently we can pump between 2.5um and 9um wavelengths, and shorter wavelengths will be available soon. Samples can be measured in vacuum with the option for cryogenic temperatures also to be implemented soon. The conductivity dynamics can be probed up to 3ns after photoexcitation.
Photoisomerization of ethyl ferulate: A solution phase transient absorption study
M. D. Horbury, L. A. Baker, N. D. N. Rodrigues, W. -D. Quan and V. G. Stavros Chem. Phys. Lett. 673, 62-67 (2017) [ref]