The recording of high resolution spectral images and non-invasive monitoring of wall paintings in grotto sites, tombs and buildings are particularly important since these paintings are extremely vulnerable. The remoteness of some of the sites, the inaccessible height of some of the paintings and the difficulty in controlling the environment they are in, all contribute to their vulnerability. Imaging of wall paintings at high resolution currently requires either scaffolding or some heavy and cumbersome mechanical structure to lift the camera to the upper parts of a wall or ceiling. The aim of the proposed project is to develop a portable imaging system that is light-weight and flexible for in situ high resolution, accurate colour and spectral imaging in the visible/near infrared (400-1000nm) and short-wave infrared (900nm-1700nm), including fluorescence imaging of wall paintings and other large paintings from ground level. The system would provide the means of non-invasive monitoring of the conditions of the paintings, revealing past intervention, studying painting techniques and identifying pigments and disseminating the 3D colour images to the general public. The portability of the system means that it can be taken to remote sites to image paintings in situ without the need for scaffolding or other cumbersome mechanical structures and that it can also be used to image large museum paintings and painted objects in situ at high resolution.

A Centre for Innovative Manufacture in Laser-based Production Processes is proposed. This Centre will exploit the unique capabilities of laser light to develop new laser-based manufacturing processes, at both micro and macro levels, supported by new laser source, process monitoring and system technologies. The past 25 years has seen industrial lasers replace many 'conventional' tools in diverse areas of manufacture, enabling increased productivity, functionality and quality, where for example laser processing (cut/join/drill/mark) has revolutionised automotive, aerospace and electronics production. However the penetration of laser technology into some areas such as welding and machining has been less than might have been anticipated. But recently there has been a significant 'step change-opportunity' to take laser-based processing to a new level of industrial impact, brought about by major advances in laser technology in two key areas: (i) A new generation of ultra-high quality and reliability lasers based around solid state technology (laser diode and optical fibre) has evolved from developments in the telecoms sector. These lasers are leading to systems with very high levels of spatial and temporal controllability. This control, combined with advanced in-process measurement techniques, is revolutionising the science and understanding of laser material interactions. The result of this is that major improvements are being made in existing laser based processes and that new revolutionary processes are becoming viable, e.g. joining of dissimilar materials. (ii) A new generation of high average power laser technologies is becoming available, offering controllable trains of ultrashort (picosecond and femtosecond) pulses, with wavelengths selectable across the optical spectrum, from the infrared through to the ultra-violet. Such technology opens the door to a whole range of new laser-based production processes, where thermal effects no longer dominate, and which may replace less efficient 'conventional' processes in some current major production applications. These new developments are being rapidly exploited in other high-value manufacturing based economies such as Germany and the US. We argue that for the UK industry to take maximum advantage of these major advances in both laser material processing and machine technology there is an urgent requirement for an EPSRC Centre for Innovative Manufacturing in Laser-based Production Processes. This will be achieved by bringing together a multi-disciplinary team of leading UK researchers and key industry partners with the goal of exploiting 'tailored laser light'. Together with our industrial partners, we have identified 2 key research themes. Theme A focuses on Laser Precision Structuring, i.e. micro-machining processes, whilst Theme B is focused on joining and additive processes. Spanning these themes are the laser based manufacturing research challenges which fall into categories of Laser Based Production Process Research and Laser Based Machine Technologies, underpinned by monitoring and control together with material science. Research will extend from the basic science of material behaviour modelling and laser-material interaction processes to manufacturing feasibility studies with industry. The Centre will also assume an important national role. The Centre Outreach programme will aim to catalyse and drive the growth of a more effective and coherent UK LIM community as a strong industry/academia partnership able to represent itself effectively to influence UK/EU policy and investment strategy, to promote research excellence, and growth in industrial take-up of laser-based technology, expand UK national knowledge transfer and marketing events and improve the coordination and quality of education/training provision.

Manufacturing with lasers has advanced from the purely science fiction ideas of the 1950's and 60's to be a real world, critical step, in the manufacture of an enormous range of products. Over the years a range of new techniques and processes have been developed in research labs and companies across the world. One of the more important of these has been the development of beam-shaping technology. Laser processing of material is driven by transfer of energy from the laser beam into the material, and can be a mixture of thermal, photo-chemical and optical non-linear effects. By changing the shape of a laser beam where it impacts a material it is possible to mould how and where energy is transferred. This then allows for more precise control of the laser-material interaction and hence of the manufacturing process itself. This has led to improvements in the way cutting, welding and similar processes work with improvements in quality and efficiency. However these beam-shaping technologies are limited. They only shape in two dimensions, i.e. in a single focal plane. This is not a big problem for "surface processes" as the plane at which the laser beam is formed into the right shape can be made, with some care in focussing the beam, to be the surface of the material. However for materials with an irregular shape, imprecise thicknesses, or that are at least partially transparent to the laser, this is a challenge. It is also a challenge when trying to take advantage of the range of exciting new technologies based on non-linear phenomena. Non-linear laser processes typically limit the laser material interaction to only those regions of the laser beam where there is an extremely high intensity i.e. at the focus. By moving the focus inside the material it then possible to manufacture from the inside out. However, because the light interacts with the material not just on the surface but throughout the focal volume two dimensional beam shaping is insufficient; full 3D control is instead required. Within this research project we will take advantage of the wave-nature of light. Through careful shaping of a glass optic it is possible to bend different parts of a laser beam to overlap in a controlled manner. As the beams overlap they will interfere creating regions of high and low energy. Though careful calculation it is possible to manipulate this with each optic designed to give a precise interference pattern which results in a specific energy distribution; to shape the beam in three dimensions. By shaping the laser beam throughout the focal region it will be possible to open entirely new methods of manufacture from more effective means to cut toughened glass (like mobile phones or iPads), dice and drill semiconductors (for computer chips), make precision medical devices, and create new and much more effective surgical procedures. The potential applications are truly enormous, transformative and will change how and what we can manufacture.

This platform grant will underpin integrated photonics research in advanced laser sources, photonic circuits, and sensors, at the Optoelectronics Research Centre (ORC) at the University of Southampton, leveraging the recent investment of >£100M in the new Mountbatten Fabrication Complex. Photonic materials and device research has been the key driver of many disruptive advances in telecommunications, healthcare, data storage, display and manufacturing, and this platform grant will provide the group with the horizon and stability to build upon its international standing to explore new high-risk, high-reward research avenues. Integrated photonic materials and devices of the future will play a huge role in the next generation of cheaper, faster, greener, disposable, miniaturised and more versatile systems based on silica and silicon, glasses, crystal and polymer hosts, in both channel and planar geometries. The broad range of expertise within our group and our access to the unequalled brand-new planar fabrication facilities will allow us to fully explore this diverse research area. Impact will be realised through applications in compact kW-class waveguide lasers (new manufacturing techniques), pollution sensors (monitoring climate change), optical amplifiers and switches (high-speed data control), early threat detection devices (homeland security), and fast universally accessible disease screening (point-of-care medical diagnostics). Applications for the photonic materials, processes and devices developed during this platform grant will play a key role in fields of interest to society, Industry as well as university-based research and development, and will be pursued in collaboration with both existing and newly-identified partners during the programme.

Many high value next generation products demand macro scale ultra precision components, with micro-scale structure possessing nanometric tolerance. CIM-UP's vision is to be the world's foremost research centre for innovation in next generation ultra-precision production systems and products with global outreach. It will foster and accelerate development of emerging high value products through its dedicated production compatible ultra precision process research platforms and internationally leading research programme. It will facilitate the engagement of the UK precision manufacturing supply chain into the future wealth creating opportunities of emerging sectors.The key manufacturing challenges that will be met by CIM-UP are the creation of a suite of ultra-high precision closed loop (integrated metrology) digital based manufacturing tools that offer a step-change in the fabrication routes for products that require nanoscale precision across length scales from nm to several metres.It is intended that process research will extend energy processing technologies, such as plasmas, lasers, ion and electron beams, and low temperature deposition techniques into fully capable ultra precision manufacturing processes. It is intended these emergent processes will be employed sequentially or simultaneously with established ultra precision processes within newly devised research platforms. These research platforms will be created in partnership with suitable UK industrial partners using a fully digital mechatronic design process. The design processes will extend; CAD, FEA (thermal/dynamic), CAM and performance verification using modal techniques for thermal and mechanical structural analyses. Performance verification will be undertaken using internationally accepted test procedures that will be verified, and where necessary enhanced, using the services of an appropriate national laboratory.Important UK manufacturing operations within biomedical, telecommunications, energy generation, aerospace/space, transport, pharmaceutical and future display technologies rely on precision engineering. Emerging fields of printed electronics and flexible displays are highly dependent on the creation of new production capabilities which will need to offer step changes in precision accuracy and productivity. The overarching aim of CIM-UP will be to realise research processes and platforms that define a new generation of rapid and effective ultra precision production systems. In this way, this centre will reconcile the simultaneous demands of 'accuracy' and 'rapid production capacity' thereby establishing advanced manufacturing technologies pivotal to important emerging market sectors. Through close interaction with the UK's precision manufacturing technology supply chain and product end users/developers, a unique world-leading ultra precision research centre will be established by two internationally recognised research institutes. This collaborative application builds on previous research programme partnerships established through earlier IMRC activities, Grand Challenges and the UPS2 Integrated Knowledge Centre. The UPS2 IKC and Cambridge CIKC will provide pipe-line translation mechanisms for the proposed early TRL research outputs from CIM-UP.