Research centre for photonics

Many items in everyday use - such as mobile phones and laptop computers - exist because of research carried out in photonics. At the UKs University of Cambridge, several academic groups have joined with industrial partners to investigate the different aspects of photonics, applications and materials in a new Centre for Molecular Materials for Photonics and Electronics (CMMPE).

Based at the Cambridge Science Park, the centre is led by Professor Harry Coles, a leading researcher in this field.

He said, "The launch of the CMMPE puts Cambridge at the cutting edge of photonics research. Through inter-departmental and industrial collaboration, the centre will enable significant advances that will filter down to the market place with the emergence of new 3D TV displays and telecommunications devices, such as mobile phones and palm-tops."

The centre's researchers will look specifically at the application of polymers, nano-structures and liquid crystals to display, telecoms and light-emitting devices. They will also focus on the applications of organic materials and related hybrid structures to photonics field including Dow Corning, Pi-Photonics and CRL.