Dr. Mark Hughes
School of Science, Engineering and Environment
Current positions
Reader in Physics
Biography
I have a degree in electrical engineering from the University of Warwick, and a PhD in Photonics from the Optoelectronics Research Centre, University of Southampton, where my research focused on transition metal doping of chalcogenide glasses and femtosecond laser writing of waveguides in chalcogenide glasses.
After my PhD I took a post-doc position in Japan at Toyota Technological Institute, where my research focused on bismuth and nickel doped oxide glasses and glass-ceramics, and waveguide writing in oxide glasses. After this I moved to Nagoya University, where I worked on carbon nanotube based optical devices. I then moved to the Advanced Technology Institute, University of Surrey, where I worked on material characterisation and device fabrication of ion implanted chalcogenide glasses. I then worked as a lecturer, then reader, in physics at the University of Salford.
Areas of research
Quantum computing, Ion implantation, Non-volatile memory devices, Solid-state electrolytes, Doped glasses, Carbon nanotube devices, Femtosecond laser written waveguides, Chalcogenides glasses
Areas of supervision
Quantum computing, Non-volatile memory devices, Solid-state electrolytes, Doped glasses, Femtosecond laser written waveguides
Modules that I have previously taught include foundation year Introduction to Mechanics and Gravitation, foundation year Practical Laboratory, first year Digital Electronics, second year Practical Laboratory, second year Properties of Matter. Modules that I currently teach include foundation year Introduction to Electrical Circuits and Devices, first year Electricity, Magnetism and Light, first year Physics Laboratory Skills, second year Group Project, third year Photonics and Nanotechnology, and fourth year Practical Laboratory.
I lead a research group at the University of Salford that is developing novel computing and communication technologies. Our main project is the development of erbium implanted silicon (Er:Si) as a quantum computing platform; this has attracted grants from the Royal Society and EPSRC which resulted in them reporting coupling of Er:Si to a superconducting resonator, a coherence measurement of Er:Si, a characterisation technique they call Optically Modulated Magnetic Resonance (OMMR), and a patent filed for a device based on Er:Si that can coherently interface between photonic and superconducting quantum computers. We also investigate electronic devices based on bismuth implanted chalcogenide glass that could have applications in optical computers, high speed resistive switching memory devices for applications in universal memory, solid state electrolytes for higher capacity and safer Li ion batteries, femtosecond laser written waveguides in highly non-linear glass for high speed optical devices, bismuth doped glasses for broadband fibre amplifiers and lasers, and carbon nanotube based electronic devices.
Qualifications
- Optoelectronics Research Centre, University of Southampton, UK. PhD in Photonics.
- University of Warwick, UK. Bachelor of Electrical Engineering.
Memberships
- Fellow of the Higher Education Academy