Meanwhile, over at QinetiQ’s Cody Technology Park in Farnborough, efforts are focused on integrating the core phase-control technology with high-power laser sources, as well as alignment optics and a power source. A large systems-integration facility is available for indoor testing, allowing the team to evaluate the effect of the phase control on the output beam.
Longer term, QinetiQ believes that directed-energy systems exploiting either high-energy lasers or high-power radio-frequency transmitters could be used more generally for wireless power transfer. For example, beaming energy at a co-operative target, such as a drone equipped with a receiving system, would make it possible to recharge an onboard power-storage device.
Other possible scenarios include emergency response situations, where power needs to be supplied to critical infrastructure without running cables. The European Space Agency, meanwhile, is also interested in using the technology to beam high-bandwidth data into space. Wireless power-transfer technology could even support the mass-market adoption of electric vehicles, providing top-up charges from systems installed along the motorway. “This research is still very speculative, but it shows the enormous potential of directed-energy technology,” comments Hoad. “It could be really interesting for some applications.”
Developing such high-power systems requires expertise in many different aspects of laser science. One is to understand how the atmosphere affects the propagation of high-energy laser beams, since turbulence close to the ground and changing weather conditions make it challenging to control and target the beam. Laser safety is another crucial area of research, with experts working to evaluate the hazards and risks of firing high-power lasers into the sky, such as understanding what happens when some of the energy is reflected back from the target.
Open opportunities
“Taking the technology from R&D to the development of practical systems puts more emphasis on the engineering, as well as understanding the wider consequences of using directed-energy technology,” comments Hoad. “That means we need to grow our capability, and we now have roles available in both Malvern and Farnborough for people who want to apply their skills and see their research exploited in real-world systems.”
"We are open minded about the amount of previous experience a candidate can offer, since we provide dedicated training for new recruits", Richard Hoad, QinetiQ.
QinetiQ is looking for scientists or engineers who can demonstrate a working knowledge of photonics and laser physics. “We are open minded about the amount of previous experience a candidate can offer, since we provide dedicated training for new recruits to enable them to work with our technology and our facilities,” he says. “New team members have the opportunity to move around the business, so an optical physicist working primarily in Malvern might spend time in Farnborough to see how the technology gets integrated, while our high-energy engineers would go to Malvern to understand how the core technology works.”
QinetiQ is also keen to support staff who wish to further their academic training, whether for an undergraduate university course or a sponsored PhD. Hoad himself joined the business as a technician apprentice, studying part-time to obtain first a Master’s and then a PhD, while several of his team members are currently working towards their doctorates. “We are building stronger links with academia, and sponsoring students is a great way for us to that,” he says.
Candidates who are fresh out of university can also join through QinetiQ’s two-year graduate training scheme, which assigns each new entrant to a “home” business while also offering six-month placements in other departments. “There are plenty of options within QinetiQ for people who are interested in laser science,” says Hoad. “As well as our work on high-energy sources, other groups are focusing on areas such as LIDAR and optical ground systems for communications.
Indeed, with more than 6000 employees worldwide, QinetiQ offers a range of opportunities for career progression. Scientists who become experts in their field are recognized through a fellowship scheme, with Fellows and Senior Fellows receiving an annual stipend to pursue their own research. A career development framework for technical staff also encourages external collaborations with industry and academia, continuing professional development, and conference attendance – all with the objective of building networks that can help to advance the technology.
“Most of our projects involve a partner in industry or the defence sector,” comments Hoad. “We need to join forces to move this technology along.”
Visit the QinetiQ’s careers page here to view and apply for roles.
