Elliott Denis, DPHIL ATOMIC AND LASER PHYSICS
I am a 1st year DPhil student in the plasma physics group led by Prof. Peter Norreys. Prior to joining Oxford, I carried out an Astrophysics BSc at UCL (2019-2022) and an Applied Mathematics MSc at Imperial (2022-2023). Combining my passion for high energy physics, observational astrophysics and mathematical methods, I developed an interest for laser-plasma experiments; more specifically, finding ways of observing and optimising them.
My interest resides in hyperspectral imaging (compressive sensing) which can be used with chirped laser pulses for ultra-fast time resolution imaging (SHRIMP device), allowing to identify and discriminate objects with precise spectral signatures in real-time. These provide an extraordinary new tool for applications across a wide range of scientific disciplines, industries, medicine and engineering, which led to the development of Living Optics Ltd who are funding my DPhil and whose systems I will spend some time looking at; working on inverse problem-solving with heterogenous data.
Hyperspectral cameras provide novel data which I am excited to delve into and apply in a high energy density plasma physics setting. Notably, extending the SHRIMP method to the use of broad bandwidth X-rays (which can be generated from certain types of laser-plasma interactions) and studying the temporal resolution limitations (expected to be in the attosecond regime).
Other project avenues include studying the electric and magnetic fields of fusion plasmas through MeV proton beam deflections using the Voronoi and power diagram methods; and investigating the development of plasma channels in low-density gas cells using the SHRIMP device.
I am also hoping to set-up experiments which could be conducted with collaborators in the University of Michigan (Prof Karl Krushelnick) and in the LMU (Prof Andreas Döpp).