Phablabs 4.0

The Technical University of Delft (TUD) is represented by the Optics group part of the Imaging Physics Department of the Applied Physics Faculty. The group focuses on teaching and research in the field of applied optics. The aim is to pursue high-level research in the field of optical instrumentation and optical technology. Key areas are next-generation lithography, sub-wavelength optics and metrology, terahertz imaging and optical design.

The group is led by Prof. Paul Urbach former president of the European Optical Society (EOS) and consist of 8 academic staff with 10 years experience in Photonics.

TUD will be mainly involved in the making of workshops and a Challenger project and in the dissemination activities of the project.

The Optics group has a strong history in metrology (distance measurement) and in astronomy (nulling interferometry). We have tight links with Philips Lighting (LEDs, remote phosphor, etc..), with Carl Zeiss (optical design). We have started to investigate the use of plastic lenses made via a printing process and the way to compensate via free form optics their aberrations and defects. In addition, we have a strong affinity with the combination of experiments and education/promotion.

All these topics are closely related to our proposal of workshops and challenger project.

The Optics group has been involved in the past with many project that have photonics education in heart: the ‘”NEMO Edukit”, “Photonics4all” as example. For these projects, we have been in relation with the Dutch Union of Physics Teachers, to promote the different kits available and share with them new ways to encourage kids to study photonics.

We had a leading role in the promotion of Optics via experiment in the region of Zuid-Holland in collaboration with the Museum Science Center of Delft.

Our group has led the FP7 Support Action European funded project for training European SME’s in optical design and has decided to continue it with his partners. We are currently shaping with TNO (Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research) the staring of DOC, the Delft Optical Center which aims to link knowledge in optics and companies.