Ultrafast optical techniques provide powerful probes of different states of matter, using light pulses that have femtosecond duration. In Warwick our activities span a number of areas:
studying the dynamics of the light-matter interaction in novel compounds and nanomaterials via terahertz spectroscopy and pump-probe methods,
performing terahertz medical imaging and spectroscopy,
developing methods and components for terahertz imaging and terahertz spectroscopy.
Group facilities
The Group has labs across the campus, in the main Physics building, Materials and Analytical Sciences, and Millburn House. Read more about our experimental capabilities in terahertz science and technology. We also run the Research Technology Platform.
We make use of a wide range of Warwick's excellent materials analysis equipment, including , Raman spectroscopy, and .
Join the group!
PhD positions are available for UK students and potentially for exceptional international students. Please get in touch if you are interested in PhD or MSc by Research topics in the group. We also support postdoctoral researchers to apply for independent fellowship schemes - let us know if that appeals.
Group, Theses & Photos
Contact details for our current and our photo gallery. For recent theses from the group, please see here.
Research areas
Nanomaterials
We use pump/probe spectroscopy to study how light and matter interact on femtosecond to nanosecond timescales. Using visible probes we can track electronic processes, while infrared radiation lets us study vibrational states of molecules and atomic-scale defects in semiconductors.
Performing in vivo studies of the THz properties of skin is a major initiative in the group, supported by the EPSRC Terabotics Programme GrantLink opens in a new window. We develop robust measurement protocols and test them on a statistically significant number of patients, cross-checking with other methods.
A major strand of our research is to improve our knowledge of the fundamental science underpinning new semiconductor materials, such as metal-halide perovskites, which are often attractive for photovoltaic applications.
We develop new THz devices and integrate them into novel systems designs that can perform THz imaging and THz spectroscopy faster, and with increased capabilities (e.g. polarisation control; robot-controlled probes).
S. Mou, R.I. Stantchev, S. Saxena, H. Ou, S. Rane, S. Pain, J.D. Murphy, E. Hendry, J. Lloyd-Hughes and E. Pickwell-MacPherson
Nature Communications 17 1571 (Jan 2026)
Real-time, non-invasive imaging techniques are essential for advancing biomedical diagnostics and material analysis, yet existing terahertz (THz) systems often suffer from limited speed, bulky designs, and poor adaptability to in situ environments. Addressing these challenges, we present a fully fibre-coupled THz attenuated total internal reflection single-pixel imaging system, offering a compact, flexible, and robust platform for non-destructive spectroscopy and in vivo imaging. This all-fibre architecture enables seamless integration for in situ biomedical applications, including measurements directly on patients. Central to our design is a THz spatial light modulator based on an unpassivated silicon wafer, facilitating high-speed modulation and enabling video-rate imaging with a spatial resolution down to 360 渭m. Despite being in the reflection geometry and using fibre-coupled light, our system achieves an imaging throughput exceeding 30,000 pixels per second for 64-by-64 images - over five-fold higher than the state of the art - representing a substantial improvement in real-time THz imaging capabilities.
Jake D. Hutchinson, Marcin Giza, Nathaniel P. Gallop, Benjamin Vella, Edward Butler-Caddle, Shaoyang Wang, James Lloyd-Hughes, Pablo Docampo and Rebecca L Milot
Adv. Optical Materials 13 e02011 (Dec 2025)
The incorporation of Ruddlesden–Popper (RP)/3D perovskite heterostructures into photovoltaic cells has been shown to increase both the efficiency and stability of the devices. Here, a series of methylammonium lead triiodide (MAPbI3) thin films treated with varying 2-phenylethylammonium (PEA) concentrations are investigated with static and ultrafast spectroscopic techniques to reveal the mechanisms of the observed performance benefits. Transient absorption spectroscopy is employed to elucidate the effect of a surface RP layer on the excited state of the MAPbI3 films and reveal that several different RP structures are formed and participate in the charge-carrier dynamics. The passivation effects of PEA are investigated with optical pump–terahertz probe (OPTP) experiments using a variety of excitation conditions to simultaneously probe the surface and bulk recombination dynamics. Fitting models to the OPTP data for each excitation scheme allows the material parameters that govern the ultrafast dynamics to be quantified. It is found that as the PEA concentration increases, the surface recombination velocity exhibits a monotonic decrease, suggesting the RP layer is effective at passivating surface traps. Furthermore, the bulk monomolecular recombination rate is also found to decrease with the addition of PEA, indicating that the benefits of this passivation approach are not limited to the upper surface of the MAPbI3 films.
T.J. Keat, J. Zhao, J.M. Woolley, P. Malakar, G.M. Greetham, X. Wu, J.P. Goss, R.J. Cruddace, C.B. Hartland, M.W. Dale, V.G. Stavros, M.E. Newton and J. Lloyd-Hughes, Phys. Rev. Lett. 135 216902 (Nov 2025)
We investigated ultrafast defect-lattice dynamics in diamond using the Ns:贬鈭扖0 defect, an analog of bond-centered hydrogen in semiconductors. Combining synthesis, ultrafast vibrational spectroscopy, and ab initio calculations, we show that excitation of the defect鈥檚 stretch mode leads to the generation of localized phonons and the formation of a hot ground state, where the interatomic potential is transiently modified. Our results reveal unexpected nonequilibrium phonon effects despite diamond鈥檚 exceptionally high thermal conductivity, with implications for quantum defect engineering.
J.J. Young, A. Agarwal, B.G. Page, A. Dogra, A.I. Hernandez-Serrano, J. Hardwicke and E. Pickwell-MacPherson J. IR mm THz waves 46, 36 (May 2025)
In this work, we demonstrate significant modifications to our robotically controlled terahertz (THz) sensing system, the 鈥淧icoBot,鈥� enabling it to perform in vivo imaging of skin rather than limiting it to single-point measurements. By integrating a robotic arm equipped with force-sensitive feedback control, we maintain consistent contact pressure between the probe and the skin surface throughout imaging. In conjunction with this hardware advancement, we introduce an accompanying image analysis pipeline that reduces noise and enhances repeatability across scans. These improvements allow for reliable intra- and inter-subject comparisons, a critical step toward the clinical utility of THz imaging. Our ultimate aim is to use THz imaging to detect skin cancer margins: this paper highlights progress towards this goal and skin evaluation in general.
