Photonics, Lasers and Manufacturing Miracles.

Please note that the CSES Annual General Meeting (AGM) will follow this talk.

Dramatic advances in photonics technology mean that today's industrial laser systems offer unparalleled capabilities in precision manufacturing and advanced materials processing. The potential for improving laser based manufacturing technologies is further increased with the advent of new laser source technologies and process control methodologies that aim to deliver right first time manufacturing.

In this talk Bill O'Neill will tell us about his work at the Centre for Industrial Photonics helping to develop leading-edge laser based manufacturing process technologies including: innovative laser-based techniques for ultra-precision engineering; ultra-fast pulsed laser deposition of transition metal oxide thin films; high throughput array and phase-controlled laser powder bed additive manufacturing; laser assisted cold spray for large scale additive manufacturing; reduced hydrogen outgassing of high energy microwave systems through laser induced microstructural surface modifications; and enhanced field emission from carbon nanotubes for low earth orbit electric satellite propulsion.

Professor William (Bill) O'Neill is an academic and researcher at the University of Cambridge, where he serves as the Professor of Laser Engineering and Director of the Centre for Industrial Photonics. He is internationally recognised for his contributions to the fields of laser technology, materials processing, and advanced manufacturing. His work has significant applications across industries, including space, aerospace, process, automotive, bio-medical, and electronics.

He is a graduate of the Department of Physics, University of Essex, (Applied Physics B.Sc (Hons) 1985), (Laser Physics MSc, 1986) and The Royal School of Mines, Imperial College London (Laser matter interactions, PhD, DIC, 1990). He held various academic positions at the University of Liverpool before joining the Institute for Manufacturing at Cambridge, in 2003, where he established the Centre for Industrial Photonics, working closely with industry partners to bring cutting-edge laser technologies from research labs to commercial applications.

In addition to his academic achievements, Prof. O'Neill is a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering, the Institute of Physics, and the Laser Institute of America. In October 2025 the LIA named him as the recipient of the Arthur L Schawlow Award for outstanding contributions to laser science and engineering. In the same month he was named as the AILU Fellowship Award winner! This Fellowship is the Association of Industrial Laser Users' highest honour, granted for an outstanding lifetime contribution to the industrial use of lasers in the UK. Bill holds multiple patents related to laser technologies and materials processing. He is also an active consultant for major international companies. His work bridges the gap between academia and industry, contributing to the advancement of next generation manufacturing capabilities.

Refreshments will be available from 30 minutes before the advertised start time.

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