Picophotonics: the science of light-matter interactions at sub-nanometre scale

About the Project

Supervisory Team: Prof Kevin MacDonald and Prof Nikolay Zheludev

Optical imaging and metrology techniques now routinely break the classical diffraction limit on resolution. This project will reach further still: leveraging recent advances in the subwavelength structure of light fields, metamaterials, information theory and artificial intelligence to achieve sub-nanometric (atomic scale!) optical measurement precision.

Optical imaging and metrology become increasingly challenging at the nanoscale, as objects and the parameters we seek to quantify (dimensions, shapes, positions, displacements) become small compared to the wavelength of light. Existing ‘super-resolution’ microscopy techniques rely on fluorescent tagging and low frame rates, and they cannot be employed to probe the structure or sub-millisecond dynamics of metal/semiconductor/dielectric nanomaterials and devices. We have shown recently that optical measurements with deeply subwavelength (sub-nanometre) resolution are possible via analyses of objects’ light scattering patterns. This project will explore the physics and test the limits of the approach in application, for example, to the study of thermal and optically-driven motion in nanomechanical systems.

Our research group is a multinational team of students, postdoctoral and academic staff working together on various aspects of cutting-edge nanophotonics research. We explore, develop and demonstrate the physics and technology of novel materials and light-matter interaction phenomena at sub-wavelength scales, with wide-ranging applications potential, such as optical metrology, sensing, super-resolution imaging, data processing, and advanced manufacturing. Our work is supported by research grants (totalling ~£40M over the next 5 years) from the UK’s Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, the European Research Council and the Royal Society.

The Optoelectronics Research Centre (ORC) is a world-leading photonics research organization. With over 90 state-of-the-art laboratories and a diverse community of around 200 researchers working in all areas of optics and photonics, it provides an outstanding interdisciplinary environment for postgraduate students. Our extensive training programme provides knowledge and skills through photonics lectures, training for report writing, project management, time management, presentation skills and full safety training for your research area – all essential life skills for the next step in your career. Find out more about photonics and optoelectronics at the University of Southampton.

Within this project, you will have opportunity to develop advanced skills in experimental photonics, computational electromagnetic modelling, nanofabrication, the application of machine learning and AI, and electron and optical microscopy. Our students typically publish several papers in leading academic journals and present their work at a number of major international conferences, as their research progresses.

Entry requirements

You must have a UK 2:1 honours degree, or its international equivalent, in physics or another discipline relevant to the field of optics/photonics and nanomaterials science.

Fees and funding

This project is part of the EPSRC-funded research project EP/Z53285X/1 "The Future Advanced Metrology Hub for Sustainable Manufacturing" (2024-2031)

Full scholarships include tuition fees, a stipend at the UKRI rate plus 10% ORC enhancement tax-free per annum for up to 3.5 years (totalling £22,858 for 2025/26, rising annually) and a budget of £4200 for things like conference travel.

UK, EU and Horizon Europe students are eligible for scholarships. CSC students are eligible for fee waivers. Funding for other international applicants is very limited and highly competitive. Overseas students who have secured or are seeking external funding are welcome to apply.

For more information, please visit our postgraduate research funding pages.

How to apply

Apply now

You need to:

• choose programme type (Research), 2026/27, Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences
• select Full time or Part time
• search for programme PhD ORC (7097)
• add name of the supervisor in section 2 of the application

Applications should include:

• your CV (resumé)
• 2 academic references
• degree transcripts and certificates to date
• English language qualification (if applicable)