The Microwave Photonics and Sensors Group is focused on Microwave photonic signal processing, designing various ultra-high-speed optics communication devices and systems for applications in telecoms, and sensors for real-time environmental and personal health monitoring applications, Physical-layer security in fiber optic communications systems and Photonics for High-Speed Quantum Key Distribution (QKD). The group is focused on wide range of theoretical, simulations and experimental research topics in Microwave photonics, Photonic Crystal Structures, Metamaterials, Photonic Crystal Fibres, Nano-sensors, Solar Cell Nanostructures, Optical Sensors for Medical applications, Surface Plasmon Polaritons (SPP), Biosensors, Ultra-high-speed Electro-optic Modulators, Compact integrated optics, Optical Code-Division Multiple-Access System (OCDMA), Optical Frequency Division Multiplexing (Optical FDM), Optical Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (Optical MIMO) systems, and Speckle Pattern-based devices and systems for cybersecurity applications.

In civilian aerospace systems there is increasing demand for higher information capacity links to both ground stations and space based satellite networks for a wide range of applications including: on-board “Wi-Fi”, passenger and crew telecommunication and data communication, airframe and engine health monitoring systems, air traffic control communication, GPS and continuous airplane status and location monitoring.  Similarly in military aerospace live video feeds from the aircraft in addition to the continuous monitoring and control of on- board systems are envisaged. Photonics being largely Radio Frequency (RF) “blind”, hold the key prospect  of combining multiple RF radios into a single architecture and antenna either through processing in parallel or serially in time.  RF analogue photonic linking is a very promising technique due to the low insertion loss, system integration compactness, huge bandwidth capacity, security and immunity to EMI.  Our research group is focused on simulations and experimental investigation of the followings:

• All-optical processing and controlling of RF signals.
• Microwave photonic signal processing by exploiting intrinsic nonlinear effects in Optical Fibre for future Radar and Wireless communication Systems.
• Microwave Photonic Downconversion with high conversion efficiency using novel configuration schemes over a wide range of frequencies with high SFDR, low noise and suppression of high-order harmonics.

          Microwave Photonics Experimental Laboratory

 The Microwave Photonics and Sensors Group has developed and demonstarted experimentaly non-invasive wearable body sensors for continuouse monitoring of Blood Pressure, Blood Oxygen Saturation (SpO2) and Glucose Levels in Blood. 

Non-Invasive Wearable Medical Body Sensors for Continuous Monitoring of Blood Pressure, SPO2 and Glucose Levels in Blood 

The Microwave Photonics and Sensors Group is collaborating closely with leading national and international industries and universities, working on the above stated research topic. Due to our close collaboration with industry, several patents have been filed jointly with the support from the industry. This page lists some, amongst other, areas of current interest as well as areas of opportunity for future work.

Whom we work with:

The Microwave Photonics and Sensors Group collaborates with worldwide universities, research institutes, national laboratories and industrial partners.

How to join us: 

To apply for an MSc by Research or PhD within the Microwave Photonics and Sensors Group, please email the Head of Group, Dr Shyqyri Haxha at [email protected] with details about your research interests as well as a summary of your academic qualifications (a brief one to two page CV will be useful) and if you are self-funded or require funding. After you have liaised with Dr Haxha, you will be able to register an account on Royal Holloway Direct to formally submit your application.

More details on the application process can be found here. 

For more information on postdoctoral, fellowship and visiting opportunities, please email the Head of Group, Dr Shyqyri Haxha at [email protected]  with your CV and a brief statement of your research interest and career aspirations.