News

Spectral design of temperature-invariant narrow bandpass filters for the mid-infrared

12 January 2015

Our latest paper entitled 'Spectral design of temperature-invariant narrow bandpass filters for the mid-infrared' has just been published in the Optical Society of America, Optics Express journal.

Infrared optical coatings for the EarthCARE Multispectral Imager

14 October 2014

Our latest paper entitled 'Infrared optical coatings for the EarthCARE Multispectral Imager' has just been published in the Optical Society of America, Applied Optics journal.

Development of innovative tuneable linear-variable wedge filters for a new generation of infrared spectrometers

01 October 2014

The Infrared Multilayer Laboratory is pleased to announce that William Thomas has joined the group as a postgraduate research student. Will's research, titled 'Development of innovative tuneable linear-variable wedge filters for a new generation of infrared spectrometers', is to develop an innovative tuneable interference filter which will transform conventional infrared instrument design for application areas including atmospheric and environmental monitoring of pollutants, climatology and meteorology, planetary sounding and astronomy, forensics, and the control of industrial processes.

Liftoff for Reading filters on board TechDemoSat-1 satellite

09 July 2014

Precision optical components developed by the Infrared Multilayer Laboratory were successfully launched by a Soyuz 2-1B rocket at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. The infrared optical filters form a key part of the Compact Modular Sounder (CMS) instrument on board the TechDemoSat-1 satellite.

University of Reading a key component in India's advanced weather satellite

26 July 2013

Precision optical components developed by the Infrared Multilayer Laboratory at the University of Reading installed on the INSAT-3D meteorological satellite have just been launched by an Ariane 5 rocket from the Spaceport in French Guiana.

James Webb Space Telescope Significant Achievement Award

26 March 2013

Dr Gary Hawkins and Mr Richard Sherwood have been presented with a certificate from the European Space Research and Technology Centre (ESTEC) for their extraordinary contributions to the Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI) on the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) Observatory.

Future infrared filter concepts for international space research

01 November 2012

The Infrared Multilayer Laboratory is pleased to announce that Timothy Threadgold has joined the group as a postgraduate research student. Tim's research, titled 'Future infrared filter concepts for international space research', is aimed at the development of a new class of infrared thin-film optical filter for remote-sensing instruments on board future planetary space probes for astronomy and atmospheric physics.

Airshow presence for Reading's space innovation research

02 July 2012

The University of Reading's expertise in space-related research will be showcased next week at Farnborough International Airshow - the biggest events of its kind in the world.

ExoMars Climate Sounder (EMCS)

01 November 2011

The Infrared Multilayer Laboratory has commenced work on a prestigious new project for the design, development and fabrication of space-flight infrared optics for the JPL ExoMars Climate Sounder (EMCS) radiometer. The project, in conjunction with the University of Oxford, Department of Atmospheric, Oceanic and Planetary Physics, is to develop special miniature infrared filters for the instrument optical payload.

University joins international space centre

26 October 2011

The University of Reading will be using its strong track record on space-related research and links to industry to drive innovation and enterprise in the area following its membership of the International Space Innovation Centre (ISIC).

EarthCARE Multi-Spectral Imager (MSI)

01 November 2010

The Infrared Multilayer Laboratory has just started work on a prestigious new project for the design, development and fabrication of space-flight infrared optics in the ESA EarthCARE mission.

Former PhD student awarded Fellowship at leading particle physics lab

01 September 2010

Dr Paul Edwards, a former PhD student in the University of Reading's Infrared Multilayer Laboratory, has recently begun a prestigious Fellowship at the European Organisation for Nuclear Research (CERN). CERN, situated in Switzerland, is the world's biggest particle physics laboratory, and is home to the Large Hadron Collider in which scientists are attempting to re-create the conditions just after the Big Bang. They are hoping this will answer fundamental questions about the workings of the Universe.

Indian National Satellite (INSAT-3D) System

07 June 2010

The Infrared Multilayer Laboratory has recently been awarded a contract by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Space Applications Centre (SAC) to design and develop additional infrared optical filters for the INSAT-3D satellite system.

ESA Sea and Land Surface Temperature Radiometer (SLSTR)

29 January 2010

The Infrared Multilayer Laboratory has recently been awarded two prestigious development contracts to design and fabricate space-flight infrared optics for the ESA Sea and Land Surface Temperature Radiometer (SLSTR) project. The contract for the supply of precision infrared optical filters and beamsplitters was awarded to the Laboratory from detector contractor AIM Infrarot-Module GmbH (Germany) and satellite designers at Selex Galileo (Italy).

The University of Reading aids pioneering research in hunt for future landing sites on the Moon

19 June 2009

Optical components developed by scientists from the University of Reading form a key part of the instrumentation on the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) recently launched from Cape Canaveral that will pave the way for a return to the Moon by US astronauts. Data gathered by LRO will help mission planners select future landing sites and scout locations for lunar outposts.

EarthCARE MSI programme

29 January 2009

The Infrared Multilayer Laboratory has recently started work on the first phase study contract for the design, development and fabrication of space-flight infrared optics in the ESA EarthCARE mission. This initial contract received from Surrey Satellite Technology Limited comprises a conceptual design and feasibility study for thin-film coatings and materials development for filtering the optical system in the Multi-Spectral Imager (MSI) instrument payload.

Broadband Antireflection Coatings for Integrated Optics Waveguides

28 April 2008

The Infrared Multilayer Laboratory has recently started work on the first study phase contract for the design, development and manufacture of broadband antireflection coatings for integrated optics waveguides on the ESA Darwin flotilla mission.

NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) Launched

07 June 2006

Following on from its successful collaboration with Oxford University on the recently launched Mars Climate Sounder (MCS) instrument on NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO), the Infrared Multilayer Laboratory has been awarded a contract to design and manufacture of mid-infrared focal plane interference filters for the Diviner experiment for the JPL Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO).

Back to Mars for the closest look yet

05 August 2005

On August 10th 2005 Optical filters, part of the Mars Climate Sounder (MCS) instrument on NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO), manufactured at the University of Reading will be launched from Cape Canaveral in Florida beginning its journey to the red planet.

New EPSRC/DTI Sustainable Technologies Initiative Project

06 December 2004

Dr Gary Hawkins and Dr John Bowen have been successful in their bid for a EPSRC/DTI Sustainable Technologies Initiative for a study into 'Mixed Metal Oxides as Alternatives to Cadmium in High Temperature Pigments and Optoelectronic Materials'.

VLT Imager and Spectrometer in the Infrared

16 August 2004

Optical filters, part of the VLT Imager and Spectrometer in the Infrared (VISIR) instrument, manufactured at the University of Reading have successfully installed in the Melipal Very Large Telescope at the European Southern Observatory Santiago, Chile.

EOS-AURA Launch

26 July 2004

Optical filters, part of the High Resolution Dynamics Limb Sounder (HIRDLS) instrument, manufactured at the University of Reading have successfully been launched on the Earth Observing System (EOS) Aura mission from Vandenberg AFB, California.

Cassini-Huygens Mission to Saturn

10 June 2004

Optical filters manufactured at the University of Reading have just reached Saturn aboard the Cassini-Huygens mission.

Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI)

24 March 2004

The Infrared Multilayer Laboratory has recently been awarded a prestigious contract to design and develop a set of mid infrared optical filters for the Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI).

Indian National Satellite (INSAT-3D) System

09 February 2004

The Infrared Multilayer Laboratory has recently been awarded a prestigious contract by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Space Applications Centre (SAC) to design and develop mid and long wavelength infrared optical filters for the INSAT-3D satellite system.

Mars Bound Infrared Technology

15 October 2003

Specialist filters built at Reading provide a new window on the world.