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Peter Smowton

Professor Peter Smowton

(he/him)

Users
Available for postgraduate supervision

Teams and roles for Peter Smowton

Overview

I am interested in the physics of semiconductor materials and devices and particularly in those properties relevant for the integration of different materials and different functions. I am currently Director of the EPSRC Compound Semiconductor Manufacturing Hub for a Sustainable Future and the EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Compound Semiconductor Manufacturing, both of which focus on research into the manufacturing processes for the materials and devices that drive much of the technology that underpins our lives. I am Managing Director of the Institute of Compound Semiconductors, which is a University translational research facility focussed on the fabrication of Compound Semiconductor devices and integrated systems. I collaborate extensively within Cardiff University, with other leading universities worldwide and with UK based industry to develop solutions for the next generations of semiconductor based technology that underpins our connected world.

Publication

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Articles

Book sections

Conferences

Research

Interests include the design, fabrication and characterisation of optoelectronic devices. Current research topics include quantum dot lasers , high power emitters for photodynamic therapy and the physics of InGaN light emitting devices. I am also interested in optoelectronic integration of materials and functions. This involves the exploration of the physics of the light matter interactions in these materials and devices.

Teaching

I supervise 3rd and 4th year projects.

Other recent modules include:
"Laser Physics and Non-linear Optics"

"Electromagnetic Radiation Detection".

"Electronics and Instrumentation"
"Physics of Semiconductor Devices"
"Investigative Physics II" and
"Electricity, Magnetism and Light

Supervisions

I am interested in supervising PhD students in the general areas of:

  • Compound Semiconductor Device Physics
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  • Manufacturing Compound Semiconductor Devices
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  • Integrated Photonics
  •  
  • III-V semiconductor based microfluidics

Current supervision

Past projects

  • Design and Characterisation of Quantum Dot Lasers, Maryam Alsayyadi, PhD 2025
  • Characterisation of Semiconductor Nanowires for use in Semiconductor Lasers, Nour Almalki, PhD 2025
  • Developing Fabrication Processes for Optoelectronic Integration, Tristan Burman, PhD 2024
  • Advancing Photonic Integrated Circuits: Design, Fabrication and Characterization of Key Photonic Components, Fwoziah Albeladi, PhD 2024
  • Material and Device Characterisation in the Volume Manufacturing of VCSELs, Jack Baker, PhD 2023.

  • Device and Material Characterisation of Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Lasers, Curtis Hentschel, PhD 2023
  • Tantalum Oxide Anti-Reflective Thin Films for C-Band Travelling-Wave Semiconductor Optical Amplifiers, Josie Nabialek, MPhil 2023

  • Design and Realisation of InP and InAsP QD Monolithic Passively Mode-Locked Lasers, Reem Alharbi, PhD 2023

  • Active Region Doping Strategies in O-band Quantum Dot Lasers, Lydia Jarvis, PhD 2022

  • GaAs-based Integrated Photonics: Waveguides and Splitting Elements, Tahani Raja S. Albiladi, PhD 2022

  • Electroabsorption Modulators and Laser Diodes for Free-space optics and On-chip Applications, Ben Maglio, PhD 2022
  • Label-free Detection of Cell-cycling Polyploid Cells in Osteosarcoma, Basmah Abdullah Almagwashi, PhD 2022

  • Dielectrophoresis for Capillary Flow Microfluidic Optoelectronics, Dunia Giliyana, PhD 2021

 

News articles

Cardiff University is proud to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the Institute for Compound Semiconductors.

Institute for Compound Semiconductors marks ten years of industrial collaboration

18 August 2025

Cardiff University is proud to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the Institute for Compound Semiconductors.

CSconnected named as a finalist for the Bhattacharyya Award

Compound semiconductor consortium announced as a finalist for prestigious award

13 September 2024

CSconnected named as a finalist for the Bhattacharyya Award

Cardiff hub to capitalise on huge opportunity of manufacturing identified in UK’s national semiconductor strategy

Cardiff to lead one of five hubs launched to create sustainable future for manufacturing

16 May 2024

Cardiff hub to capitalise on huge opportunity of manufacturing identified in UK’s national semiconductor strategy

Institute to lead centre for doctoral training in compound semiconductor manufacturing

Cardiff receives share of £1 billion doctoral training investment

14 March 2024

Institute to lead centre for doctoral training in compound semiconductor manufacturing

Cardiff projects to deliver benefits for regional and local economies and communities

Enhancing UK research and innovation clusters

06 October 2023

Cardiff projects to deliver benefits for regional and local economies and communities

TRH unites industry and science

‘Magnet for innovation’ opens for business

04 July 2022

TRH unites industry and science

Academics from the School of Physics and Astronomy are taking part in a pioneering space telescope project to understand more about planets beyond our Solar System

Cardiff astronomers join Twinkle space mission

10 June 2021

Academics from the School of Physics and Astronomy are taking part in a pioneering space telescope project to understand more about planets beyond our Solar System

KAIROS demonstrates VCSELs for atomic clock

Cardiff helps deliver lasers for precision timing

29 March 2021

KAIROS demonstrates VCSELs for atomic clock

Electron microscopy expands capability

Award drives collaboration across Research Hub

17 November 2020

Electron microscopy expands capability

UKRI-EPSRC funded project to create silicon optical integrated circuits

Cardiff joins £6.1m programme to transform silicon chips

13 November 2020

UKRI-EPSRC funded project to create silicon optical integrated circuits

Fellowship for future LED technologies

Quantum LED to bridge industry gap

14 October 2020

Fellowship for future LED technologies

New role for Professor Diana Huffaker

Sêr Cymru Chair joins University of Texas

02 July 2020

New role for Professor Diana Huffaker

UKRI funding will build CS powerhouse in South Wales

Cardiff-led consortium wins £44m bid to develop CS chip cluster

26 June 2020

UKRI funding will build CS powerhouse in South Wales

School of Physics and Astronomy becomes first in Wales to be awarded Juno Champion status by Institute of Physics

Cardiff achieves ‘Champion’ status for gender equality in physics

27 May 2020

School of Physics and Astronomy becomes first in Wales to be awarded Juno Champion status by Institute of Physics

Cardiff opens Centre for Doctoral Training

Students join hub for CS excellence

15 October 2019

Cardiff opens Centre for Doctoral Training

A Cardiff University venture to develop Compound Semiconductors (CS) is partnering with a £1.3m Welsh Government funded project to innovate new CS technologies.

Cardiff partners £1.3m CS project

19 August 2019

A Cardiff University venture to develop Compound Semiconductors (CS) is partnering with a £1.3m Welsh Government funded project to innovate new CS technologies.

Scanner to aid border security

Cardiff camera sees through sides of trucks

13 June 2019

Scanner to aid border security

Boost for UK CS wafer manufacturing

EPSRC funds CS Centre for Doctoral Training

04 February 2019

Boost for UK CS wafer manufacturing

Chris Skidmore MP views CS Clean Room

UK Universities Minister visits ICS

25 January 2019

Chris Skidmore MP views CS Clean Room

KAIROS ‘made in UK’

Cardiff in bid to build mini atomic clock

15 November 2018

KAIROS ‘made in UK’

Cardiff hosts Chongqing Government

Chinese delegates visit ICS

05 November 2018

Cardiff hosts Chongqing Government

Newly refurbished facilities offer CS solutions for business

Economy Secretary welcomes £4m ICS Clean Room

20 June 2018

Newly refurbished facilities offer CS solutions for business

£3.2m EU-backed investment to pioneer cutting edge technology

Swansea and Cardiff team up to help Welsh economy

01 June 2018

£3.2m EU-backed investment to pioneer cutting edge technology

Clean sweep for nominations at the Business and Education Partnerships Awards.

Cardiff named University of the Year

03 November 2017

Clean sweep for nominations at the Business and Education Partnerships Awards.

Contact Details

Email [email protected]
Telephone +44 29208 75997
Campuses Translational Research Hub, Room 1.13, Maindy Road, Cathays, Cardiff, CF24 4HQ