Stephen Kitson

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Researcher
Bristol

Biography

My research background is in the physics of optical devices. I am a research scientist at HP Labs, Bristol, and I currently work on next generation display technologies where I combine work on high efficiency optics with nanotechnology and the development of novel materials and new manufacturing techniques. Our group has recently developed a novel architecture for colour reflective displays and has demonstrated a plastic prototype display. Previously we have developed bistable technologies which enable high resolution images that persist when the power is removed. These are key steps towards our goal of realising paper-like displays. We are now also starting to look at some novel sensor and actuator systems, using plastic electronics and artificial muscles.

 

Previously I have worked at DERA and at Exeter University on photonic band gap structures, plasmonics and quantum optics. I hold a BSc and PhD in physics from Exeter University.

 

In 2011 I was appointed as a visiting professor at UWE, where I work closely with colleagues in the unconventional computing centre.

 

Research interests

  • Displays
  • Liquid crystals 
  • Photonics  
  • Nanotechnology  
  • Soft actuators & artificial muscles 

Publications

  • Adamatzky A, Kitson S, De Lacy Costello B, Matranga MA and Younger D. Computing with liquid crystal fingers: models of geometric and logical computation. Physical Review E 2011; 84: 061702
  • Kitson S, Geisow A, Rudin J and Taphouse T. Bright color reflective displays with interlayer reflectors. Optics Express 2011; 19: 15404-15414
  • Edwards EG, Taphouse TS, Cornford SL and Kitson SC. High throughput technique for characterizing liquid crystal alignment in complex geometries. Applied Physics Letters 2010; 96: 021104
  • Rudin J, Kitson S, Geisow A. Color plastic bistable nematic display fabricated by imprint and ink-jet technology. Journal of the Society for Information Display 2009; 17: 309-316
  • Kitson SC, Edwards EG and Geisow AD. Designing liquid crystal alignment surfaces. Applied Physics Letters 2008;92: 073503
  • Edwards EG, Brown CV, Kriezis EE, Elston SJ, Kitson SC, and Newton CJP. Diffraction from the two stable states in a nematic liquid crystal cell containing a mono-grating with homeotropic director alignment. Molecular Crystals and Liquid Crystals 2004; 410: 401-408.
  • Kitson SC, Geisow AD. Bistable alignment of nematic liquid crystals around microscopic posts. Molecular Crystals and Liquid Crystals 2004; 412: 153-161.
  • Kitson SC, Geisow AD. Controllable alignment of nematic liquid crystals around microscopic posts: Stabilization of multiple states. Applied Physics Letters 2002; 80: 3635.
  • Amos R, Rarity J, Tapster P, Shepherd T, and Kitson SC. Fabrication of large-area face-centered-cubic hard-sphere colloidal crystals by shear alignment. Physical Review E 2000; 61: 2929-2935.
  • Jonsson P, Rarity J, Kitson SC, and Tapster P. Investigation of dye molecules for single-photon generation. Quantum Electronics Conference, 2000.Conference Digest; 1.
  • Hallam BT, Sambles JR, and Kitson SC. Ultraviolet surface plasmons on aluminum and a non-contact technique for characterizing short-pitch gratings. Journal of Modern Optics 1999; 46: 1099-1105.
  • Kitson SC, Amos R, Tapster P, and Rarity J. Making single crystal colloids for photonic bandgaps in the optical domain. Optics & Photonics News 1999; 10: 51.
  • Kitson SC, Barnes WL, and Sambles JR. Photonic band gaps in metallic microcavities. Journal of Applied Physics 1998; 84: 2399.
  • Kitson SC, Barnes WL, and Sambles JR. Proc.-Optoelectron 1998; 145: 384-390.
  • Kitson SC, Jonsson P, Rarity J, and Tapster P. Intensity fluctuation spectroscopy of small numbers of dye molecules in a microcavity. Physical Review A 1998; 58: 620-627.
  • Andrew P, Kitson SC, and Barnes WL. Surface-plasmon energy gaps and photoabsorption. Journal of Modern Optics 1997; 44: 395-406.
  • Barnes WL, Kitson SC, Preist T, and Sambles JR. Photonic surfaces for surface-plasmon polaritons. Journal of the Optical Society of America A 1997; 14: 1654–1661.
  • Kitson SC, Jonsson P, Rarity JG and Tapster PR. Measurements of the spontaneous emission from single dye molecules in a microcavity. Technical Digest: Quantum Electronics Conference (QE13) 1997.
  • Andrew P, Kitson SC, and Barnes WL. Photonic band gaps and photoabsorption. Quantum Electronics and Laser Science Conference, 1996; 34-35.
  • Barnes WL, Preist TW, Kitson SC, and Sambles JR. Physical origin of photonic energy gaps in the propagation of surface plasmons on gratings. Physical Review B 1996; 54: 6227-6244.
  • Kitson SC. Excitation of molecular fluorescence via surface plasmon polaritons. Journal of Modern Optics 1996; 43: 573-582.
  • Kitson SC and Barnes WL. Textured metallic surfaces for photonic band gaps and microcavities. Semiconductor Optical Microcavity Devices and Photonic Bandgaps (Digest No.1996/267); 6.
  • Kitson SC, Barnes WL, Bradberry G, and Sambles JR. Surface profile dependence of surface plasmon band gaps on metallic gratings. Journal of Applied Physics 1996; 79: 7383.
  • Kitson SC, Barnes WL, and Sambles JR. Photoluminescence from dye molecules on silver gratings. Optics Communications 1996; 122: 147-154.
  • Kitson SC, Barnes WL, and Sambles JR. The fabrication of submicron hexagonal arrays using multiple-exposure optical interferometry. Photonics Technology Letters, IEEE 1996; 8: 1662-1664.
  • Kitson SC, Barnes WL, and Sambles JR. Full photonic band gap for surface modes in the visible. Physical Review Letters 1996; 77: 2670-2673.
  • Kitson SC, Barnes WL, and Sambles JR. Photonic band structure of surface modes. Technical Digest - European Quantum Electronics Conference 1996; 218.
  • Kitson SC, Barnes WL and Sambles JR. A full photonic band gap for surface plasmons in the visible. Technical Digest (post-deadline papers): European Quantum Electronics Conference 1996.
  • Amos RM, Andrew P, Kitson SC and Barnes WL. Fluorescence near surfaces: the influence of surface photonic states. Technical Digest: the twelth UK National Quantum Electronics Conference 1995
  • Barnes WL, Kitson SC, Priest TW and Sambles JR. Photonic Surfaces. NATO Advanced Research Workshop: Quantum Optics in Wavelength Scale Structure 1995
  • Kitson SC and Barnes WL. Photonic band gaps and molecular fluorescence. Technical Digest – Quantum Electronics and Laser Science Conference 1995
  • Barnes WL, Preist TW, Kitson SC, Sambles JR, Cotter NPK, and Nash DJ. Photonic gaps in the dispersion of surface plasmons on gratings. Physical Review B 1995; 51: 11164-11167.
  • Kitson SC, Barnes WL, and Sambles JR. Surface-plasmon energy gaps and photoluminescence. Physical Review B 1995; 52: 11441-11445.
  • Wood EL, Sambles JR, Cotter NPK, and Kitson SC. Diffraction grating characterization using multiple-wavelength excitation of surface plasmon polaritons. Journal of Modern Optics 1995; 42: 1343-1349.
  • Kitson SC, Sambles JR. Critical edge studies of highly absorbing anisotropic films. Thin Solid Films 1993; 229: 128-132.