Liquid crystals for augmented reality and virtual reality applications
- Academic lead
- Dr Mamatha Nagaraj, Physics and Astronomy, [email protected]
- Industrial lead
- Dr Owain Parri, Merck Performance Materials Ltd, [email protected]
- Co-supervisor(s)
- Prof Helen Gleeson, School of Physics and Astronomy, [email protected], Prof Gordon Love, School of Computer Science, [email protected], Dr Richard Mandle, School of Chemistry, [email protected]
- Project themes
- Advanced Manufacturing, Clean Energy, Experimental Techniques, Fundamental, Other
Augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) technologies have potential to revolutionize the ways we perceive and interact with digital information. However, achieving satisfying user experience requires tuneable materials and accurate fabrication processes. This project will focus on developing and understanding of liquid crystals based materials and optical components for AR VR devices.
This studentship will be part-funded by the company Merck, who are the world leader in liquid crystalline materials. The student will develop a wide range of skills during the project including design of materials and devices using machine learning, fabricating devices in cleanroom environment, materials optimisation and assessment and understanding device properties using techniques such as electro-optic craterisation methods and optical and electron microscopies and spectroscopies.
Image: A liquid crystal under polarising optical microscope