The group retains a particularly versatile example which can be applied outwith the optics laboratory. Powerful vibrators for VSR and VWC work are available together with portable and versatile X-ray diffraction equipment. The principal innovatory features resulting from the research have been patented by the University. The flexible mirrors, when fully developed, will have many applications, eg telescopes, holography, flow visualisation and commercial display systems. More than 25 papers and one book have been published since 1996 in refereed conferences and journals.
Special equipment includes noise measurement and vibration testing facilities.
The interests of this group are diverse within the broad area of thermodynamic systems and fluid flow. These projects involve international collaboration with universities in Sweden and Germany. Members of the group have considerable expertise in computational dynamics and have close links with a leading CFD software company. There is also extensive collaboration with the ESRU Research Group. This group provides a forum for development and coordination of innovations in teaching and learning investigated by staff.