Research output per year
Research output per year
Research activity per year
Daniel Esser was born in Johannesburg, South Africa, on February 22, 1978. He obtained is Doctorate of Engineering in Photonics from Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh end of 2010 while working full-time at the CSIR National Laser Centre since 2004. He joined Heriot-Watt in 2013 as Professor in Laser Device Physics and Engineering. He is married to Professor Irene‑marie Esser and they have two sons.
Prof Esser's research background include key demonstrations of Nd-doped systems for 1 µm operation (Nd:YLF and Nd:YVO4), Tm-doped systems at 1.9 µm (Tm:YLF, Tm:GdVO4) and Ho-doped lasers and amplifiers for high energy 2 µm operation (Ho:YLF, Ho:LuLF). These lasers could be applied to defence, remote sensing and industrial processes. In addition to his publication outputs, he was also co-author and principle investigator for a number of technology demonstrators developed during industry-focussed research projects.
Prof Esser is researching new materials, architectures and manufacturing methods of direct diode laser modules, diode-pumped solid-state lasers, as well as laser-based digital manufacturing. His group addresses the key challenges of power- and energy scaling of solid-state laser systems, focussing on high-brightness laser diodes, micro-optic beam shaping, thin-slab architectures and compact amplifier concepts. Novel manufacturing techniques, such as ultra-fast laser welding of glass-to-metal, autonomous robotic assembly and additive manufacturing are critically evaluated for their use and uptake in the design and manufacture of future industrial laser systems.
The experimental research is underpinned by mathematical modelling and simulation of the required laser device physics and engineering, which is also applicable to a wider range of laser systems.
His industry-focussed research is supported by EPSRC, Innovate UK, RAEng and industry partners Leonardo, Renishaw, Luxinar, PowerPhotonic and STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory.
PhD studentships and Post-Doctoral Research Associate positions are supported within these research themes.
Prof Daniel Esser has a relentless passion to see new technological developments in diode-pumped solid-state lasers to be adopted by industry.
Principle Investigator: Heriot-Watt University & Leonardo & Innovate UK Knowledge Transfer Partnership Development of a Compact, High Power Mid-Infrared Slab Laser.
Research output: Contribution to conference › Abstract
Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution
Research output: Contribution to conference › Abstract
Research output: Contribution to conference › Abstract
Research output: Contribution to conference › Abstract › peer-review
Esser, M. J. D. (Creator), Berrou, A. (Creator), Collett, O. J. P. (Creator) & Morris, D. (Creator), Heriot-Watt University, 2018
DOI: 10.17861/616997a7-00b4-45d7-b6e9-eec1659eec12
Dataset
Carter, R. (Creator), Troughton, M. (Creator), Chen, J. (Creator), Elder, I. (Creator), Thomson, R. R. (Creator), Esser, M. J. D. (Creator), Lamb, R. A. (Creator) & Hand, D. P. (Creator), Heriot-Watt University, 2017
DOI: 10.17861/4d584d51-b575-4273-b915-405d2612b524
Dataset
Richard Carter (Invited speaker), Paulina Morawska (Invited speaker), Adrian Dzipalski (Invited speaker), Samuel Hann (Invited speaker), Matthew Jan Daniel Esser (Invited speaker) & Duncan Paul Hand (Invited speaker)
Activity: Participating in or organising an event › Participation in conference
Samuel Hann (Speaker), Nathan Macleod (Speaker), Paulina Morawska (Speaker), Richard Carter (Speaker), Ian Elder (Speaker), Robert A. Lamb (Speaker), Matthew Jan Daniel Esser (Speaker) & Duncan Paul Hand (Speaker)
Activity: Talk or presentation › Oral presentation
Matthew Jan Daniel Esser (Member)
Activity: Membership › Membership of committee
Matthew Jan Daniel Esser (Member)
Activity: Membership › Membership of committee