About us
We are a theoretical research group at the School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering and the Institute for Digital Molecular Analytics and Science at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. The group is lead by Assistant Professor Matthew R. Foreman.
Our research focuses on optical and plasmonic sensing, polarisation sensitive imaging, disordered media and electromagnetic theory. More information on some of our past and present projects can be found by visiting our Research pages.
Recent news
Research Fellow positions available
30 Mar 2023: We are now recruiting for two Research Fellow positions at the Insitute for Digital Molecular Analytics and Science (IDMxS) in Singapore. We have a theoretical position focusing on nanophotonics (see here or here) and an experimental position building nanoparticle and SERS based microscopes (see here or here). Applications close on April 13.
Arrived in Singapore
1 Mar 2023: The group has finally moved! After saying his goodbyes at Imperial College, Matthew has started his new role as Assistant Professor at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore. Niall Byrnes will be joining him soon to continue his research on modelling propagation of polarised light in random media. PhD positions are still available so please check them out if you fancy joining the group.
PhD thesis submitted!
1 Feb 2023: After a final push Niall has just submitted his PhD thesis on random matrix modelling of polarised light scattering in disordered media! A big congratulations on what is an excellent piece of work.
Recent publications
Abstract : In this work we present a method for generating random matrices describing electromagnetic scattering from disordered media containing dielectric particles with prescribed single particle scattering characteristics. Resulting scattering matrices automatically satisfy the physical constraints of unitarity, reciprocity and time reversal, whilst also incorporating the polarization properties of electromagnetic waves and scattering anisotropy. Our technique therefore enables statistical study of a variety of polarization phenomena, including depolarization rates and polarization-dependent scattering by chiral particles. In this vein, we perform numerical simulations for media containing isotropic and chiral spherical particles of different sizes for thicknesses ranging from the single to multiple scattering regime and discuss our results, drawing comparisons to established theory.
Abstract : We report sensing of single nanoparticles using disordered metallic nanoisland substrates supporting surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs). Speckle patterns arising from leakage radiation of elastically scattered SPPs provides a unique fingerprint of the scattering microstructure at the sensor surface. Experimental measurements of the speckle decorrelation are presented and shown to enable detection of sorption of individual gold nanoparticles and polystyrene beads. Our approach is verified through bright-field and fluorescence imaging of particles adhering to the nanoisland substrate.
Abstract : We study the polarisation properties of random N × N scattering matrices distributed according to the circular orthogonal ensemble. We interpret 2 × 2 sub-blocks of the scattering matrix as Jones matrices and study their statistical properties. Using the polar decomposition, we derive probability density functions for retardance and diattenuation from scattering matrices of arbitrary size and in the limit N → ∞.
Funding
Our research is supported by generous funding from:
