Thank you for visiting the Photonics and Laser Engineering Laboratory at Bangor University. Led by Professor Zengbo (James) Wang, our team is dedicated to advancing next-generation photonics and laser technologies with wide-ranging applications in advanced manufacturing, super-resolution imaging, sensing, solar energy, and more.
One key scientific achievement by us is the pioneering of ‘microsphere nanoscope’ and super-resolution techniques and applications based on dielectric particle superlenses made from microsphere , spider silk , high-index nanoparticle and others. These were widely publicised. Check our featured interview (“Improbable vision“) and review chapter (“Super-resolution imaging and microscopy by dielectric particle-lenses“) we wrote about the technique.
To address key challenges in microsphere nanoscopy—such as low image contrast, slow acquisition speed, sample dependence, and ultra-short working distances—we are leading innovations that aim to overcome these limitations. For more on this evolving field, see our published roadmap and Roadmap on Label-Free Super-resolution Imaging.
Beyond super-resolution, we are also active in nanophotonics and metamaterials (e.g., anti-laser filters), laser material processing (e.g., artificial surface engineering and nano-marking), and solar energy technologies, with a strong emphasis on industrial applications.
Artificial Intelligence in Photonics Design, Imaging, and Manufacturing
Our recent research places strong emphasis on integrating AI into photonics and laser engineering. Supported by a Leverhulme Trust Research Fellowship, we are developing AI-driven super-resolution imaging technologies and exploring how AI can enhance optical design, nanoscale imaging, and laser fabrication.
We apply a range of models—such as CNNs, RNNs, GANs, and Large Language Models (LLMs)—to tackle challenges in photonic inverse design, biological imaging, and laser process control. We are also working with industry to apply these AI tools in real-world product and process innovation.
News:
- 2025-01: New paper: Microsphere-assisted super-resolution polarized light microscopy for polarization-sensitive materials
- 2024-10: New paper: Detection of picometer scale vibration by microsphere probe.
- 2024-04: New research on Superlens-Assisted laser nanostructuring of Long Period optical fiber Gratings (LPGs) for enhanced refractive index sensing published (link).
- 2023-12: A new equipment grant is awarded for the procurment of an state-of-the-art Enviromental Scanning Electronc Microcope (ESEM) with integrated E-beam lithography (EBL) module to enhance our research capacity.
- 2023-11: Our team has made a key contribution to the invited seminal article “Roadmap on Label-Free Super-resolution Imaging,” recently published in Laser & Photonics Reviews, with our focus on ‘Microsphere Superlens and Metamaterial Solid Immersion Lens.’
- 2023-06: New demonstration on detection of nanoscale vibration of cell: “Label-free Tapered Fiber Optic Sensor for Real-time in Situ Detection of Cell Activity” in IEEE Sensors.
- 2023-03: New publication on nanoparticle-assembled solid immersion lens in Small
- 2023-02: New high-power femtosecond fibre laser installed in our lab.
- 2022-11: Started research leave and academic visiting at Northeastern University, Boston, USA, to work on Leverhulme Trust fellowship project.
- 2022-09: New book on “Photonic jet: science and application” published (link)
- 2022-05: Tender for high power high repetition femtosecond laser (link)
- 2022-02: New funding approved for high-power high-repetition rate ultrafast laser system.
- 2022-02: Front cover paper “Photonic lenses with whispering gallery waves at Janus particles (invited)“ in Opto-Electron. Sci.
- 2022-01: New publication on ‘Localized photonic nanojet based sensing platform” on superlens with autofocus and micro sampling capability.
- 2021-12: Case study for Laser marking of medical instrument which pass harsh steam sterilisation tests.
- 2021-09: Guest editor of Special Issue “Photonic Jet: Science and Application” in Photonics journal.
- 2021-08: CPE project summer newsletter and promotion video is out – (newsletter) (video).
