Paul's Research

My research interests include:

• Readout methods for magnetic, optical and magneto-optical data storage.
• Simulation and modeling of readout mechanisms in novel data storage systems.
• Development of near-field optical techniques for data storage.
• Channel and recovery techniques for data storage systems.
• Fabrication & characterisation of patterned media.
• Lithographic techniques for media patterning.

For a up-to-date list of publications take a look here.

Research Projects

I have (or am working) on a number of projects including:

• PhD work on modelling the imaging process in the scanning optical microscope.
• Development of a Matlab-based optical readout channel analysis program ORCAP
• Readout analysis in magnetic bit-patterned media.
• Channel design for data recovery in magnetic bit-patterned media.
• Fabrication of nanoscale magnetic bit-patterned media.
• Characterisation of nanoscale magnetic structures.

Funding

• Analysis of Data Recovery Techniques for use with Patterned Media Storage, P W Nutter and B K Middleton, EPSRC Fast Stream proposal GR/R63479/01, Sept. 2002 - Sept. 2005. Amount awarded £68,019.
• MAMMOSIL - High-density MAMMOS Disc in blue wavelength and Investigation of MAMMOS for SIL Technology, Subcontract on a Framework V Project, European Consortium led in the UK by Prof. C D Wright, University of Exeter, Nov. 2001 - Oct. 2004. Amount awarded £15,380.
• The design, development and manufacture of a software driven, electronics-based, intelligent test product for automotive fault diagnosis, P W Nutter and A Walker, Teaching Company Scheme (TCS) Programme No. 3953, EIBM Electronics Ltd (Industrial Partner), DTI funded, Nov. 2002 - Nov. 2004. Amount awarded £101,320.
• To develop BACnet communications protocol into a range of temperature controller products, maximising global sales potential and establishing a strategic development platform, P W Nutter and A Walker, Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) Programme No. 285, Titan Products Ltd (Industrial Partner), DTI funded, Sept. 2004 - Sept. 2006. Amount awarded £105,044.
• The development of new tools, techniques and working practices to enhance the recovery of data from faulty hard disk drives, P W Nutter, Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP), Data Clinic Ltd (Industrial Partner), 2007 - 2010. Amount awarded £175,527.
• Nano-Patterned Storage Media: Noise & Density Limits, J J Miles, E W Hill and P W Nutter, EPSRC Proposal EP/E017657/1. Amount awarded £652,551 (FEC), 2007 - 2010.

Minor Awards:

• Travel Grant, CR Barber Trust Fund, Institute of Physics, to support attendance of ICCE 2000, Los Angeles, USA, 2000. Amount awarded £125.
• Travel Grant, Royal Society, to support attendance of ICCE 2000, Los Angeles, USA, 2000. Amount awarded £700.
• Travel Grant, CR Barber Trust Fund/Condensed Matter and Materials Physics Group, Institute of Physics, to support attendance of ODS 2001, Santa Fe, USA, 2001. Amount awarded £189.
• Travel Grant, Royal Academy of Engineering, to support attendance of INTERMAG 2005, Nagoya, Japan, 2005. Amount awarded £900.

Current PhD Students

1. Marios Alexandrou, Project: Characterization of Patterned Media, Sept. 2006 - Sept. 2009.
2. Yuanjing (Lizzy) Shi, Project: Computer Modelling of Channels for Nano-Island Data Storage Systems, April. 2007 - April. 2010.
3. David Devereux, Project: Smart Materials for Mobile Robots, Sept. 2006 - Sept. 2009, joint supervisor with Dr Rob Richardson, Robotics, School of Computer Science.

Past PhD Students

1. Ioannis Ntokas, The Analysis Of Data Recovery Techniques For Use With Patterned Media Storage, Sept. 2002 - Sept. 2005, completed July 2006.
2. Matthew Manfredonia, Simulation of readout signals in near-field, short wavelength optical storage systems, Sept. 2002 - Sept. 2005, completed completed April 2006.