School of Physics & Astronomy

‌‌In December, a multiple research group team from the School of Physics and Astronomy commercially demonstrated the novel use of particle physics detection technology, Medipix3, for electron microscopy. This development, based upon EPSRC funded research, was enabled by support from the EPSRC Impact Acceleration Account (IAA) held by the University. The project team, consisting of Damien McGrouther (MCMP), Dima Maneuski, Val O'Shea (both PPE) and Michael Perreur-Lloyd (IGR) collaborated with Quantum Detectors Ltd, a spin out company from the Diamond Light Source, to unveil the technology at the new Electron Physical Science Imaging Centre (ePSIC) at the Harwell Campus in Oxfordshire, in front of over 30 academic and industrial attendees.

Quantum Detectors now offer the detector as part of their product range with the technology licensed from the University opening up a new market for the company. With several advance sales already in place, a second phase of the project to develop detectors with automated retraction mechanism has begun. To assist in the second phase developments the team welcome the appointment of Nadia Bassiri as a product design engineer from March 1st 2017. Nadia previously completed a summer design engineering placement with the IGR working on the design of transit containers for fused silica suspensions and was most recently working with Sureflap Ltd in Cambridge.

First published: 1 March 2017