Thomas Simpson

BSc MSc

Publication

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Research

I currently am apart of the Optoelectronics Group at Cardiff focusing on developing wafer-scale fabrication techniques for InP-based lasers. More specifically I focus defining the profile of the ridge laser using inductively coupled plasma reactive ion etching (ICP-RIE). As a result, I have a wide range of material characterization experience in scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), atomic force microscopy (AFM), reflectometry and profilometery.

Teaching

I have been a module marker for the following modules:

PX1121 - Mechanics and Matter

PX2131 - The Physics of Fields and Flows

PX2231 - Thermal and Statistical Physics

PX2236 - Introduction to Condensed Matter Physics

Biography

Prior to moving to Cardiff, I completed a BSc in Physics at the University of Leicester, achieving a First Class Honours degree and the Deparmental Prize in my final year for "exceptional perfomance". During my undergraduate degree I undertook extensive projects in experimentaly developing ionospheric radars and simulating how a scanning transmission microscope (STM) tip can be used to store charge on a graphene layer.

I also completed internships at the University of Oxford modelling the physics of how RNA folds and the University of Leicester developing models of the detection of soft X-rays using silicon photodetectors.

At Cardiff, I first completed a MSc in Compound Semiconductor Physics achiving a distinction as part of EPSRC's CDT in Compound Semiconductor Manufacturing. During this year I worked on a wide range of devices (LEDs, lasers, HEMTs) for a wide range of platforms (GaN, GaAs, InP, SOI).

Honours and awards

Distinction MSc Compound Semiconductor Physics - Cardiff University 

Departmental Prize 2023 - University of Leicester

First Class (Honours) BSc Physics - University of Leicester