P&A Student Publishes Work on Laser Amplification

Simon Wilkinson, a third year student on our MPhys Physics course has just submitted his research for review in the Journal of Quantum Electronics. Simon spent his summer between his second and third years working in Berlin at the Institute of Theoretical Physics at the Technical University of Berlin. He performed theoretical simulations of devices designed to amplify laser light passing through them. The devices are self-organised quantum dots - experimental realizations of the famous "square well" problem in Quantum Mechanics. In these devices an external voltage provides the power to place electrons in the dots in high energy levels. As a laser passes through the material it encourages the electrons to emit radiation in phase with the passing wave, amplifying it. Simon's work studied the play off between increasing the amplification and the quality of the signal produced.

Simon says, "It was a great opportunity to experience the atmosphere of a scientific research team first hand. Berlin is an amazing city too, so I had a great time, made friends and learned loads."