Dr Alison Yao

Senior Lecturer

Physics

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Personal statement

I graduated from Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, with a BSc (Hons) in Applied Physics with Semiconductor Electronics and did a Ph.D. at the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, theoretically and computationally modelling nonlinear optical systems. After a career break to raise my children, I worked in the Optics Group at the University of Glasgow investigating microrheology and optical tweezers before returning to Strathclyde to work in quantum optics. I am currently a senior lecturer in the Computational and Nonlinear Optics Group at the University of Strathclyde, Deputy Director of Teaching, and lead the Fully-Structured Light Group (FOAM).

I was delighted and honoured to be awarded the "Best Teacher in Faculty of Science" at Strathclyde Union Teaching Excellence Awards 2019, a Faculty Teaching Excellence Award for Teaching Innovation in 2019, and a Strathclyde Medal in 2020.

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Publications

Structuring atoms with structured light : optomechanical self-organization and transport in cold atomic gases
Baio Giuseppe, Ackemann Thorsten, Oppo Gian-Luca, Robb Gordon, Yao Alison
Quantum, Atomic and Molecular Physics - QuAMP 2023 (2023)
Strong chiral optical force for small chiral molecules based on electric-dipole interactions, inspired by the asymmetrical hydrozoan Velella velella
Cameron Robert P, McArthur Duncan, Yao Alison M
New Journal of Physics Vol 25 (2023)
https://doi.org/10.1088/1367-2630/ace7ee
Re-shaping Bose-Einstein condensates with complex light for atomic persistent currents and trapping
Henderson Grant W, Robb Gordon R M, Oppo Gian-Luca, Yao Alison M
Proceedings of SPIE Complex Light and Optical Forces XVII (2023)
https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2655327
Structuring ultracold atoms with light in an optical cavity
Henderson Grant W, Robb Gordon R M, Oppo Gian-Luca, Yao Alison M
Proceedings of SPIE Complex Light and Optical Forces XVII (2023)
https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2655449
Control of light-atom solitons and atomic transport by optical vortex beams propagating through a Bose-Einstein condensate
Henderson Grant W, Robb Gordon R M, Oppo Gian-Luca, Yao Alison M
Physical Review Letters Vol 129 (2022)
https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.129.073902
Propagation of coupled atom-light solitons carrying angular momentum in a Bose-Einstein Condensate
Henderson Grant, Robb Gordon RM, Oppo Gian-Luca, Yao Alison M
Nonlinear Photonics 2022 (2022)
https://doi.org/10.1364/NP.2022.NpM2E.3

More publications

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Teaching

I am the Deputy Director of Teaching for the Department of Physics.

I currently teach 1st year mechanics and electromagnetism in PH183: Mechanics & Waves and PH184: Electromagnetism & Quantum Physics, and optical angular momentum as part of PH562 Adv. Topics in Quantum Optics.

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Research Interests

My research is based upon the generation and applications of structured light, in particular light carrying orbital angular momentum (OAM). It ranges from understanding the fundamental properties of this light to investigating its behaviour in various nonlinear systems, including demonstrating for the first time the mechanism behind optical rogue waves, to potential applications in quantum communication, ocean optics, nonlinear beam propagation and interaction with chiral molecules. 

Professional Activities

Our atom-moving laser sculpts matter into weird new shapes – new research
Contributor
24/8/2022
Colloquium on Structuring light for controlled propagation and manipulation
Speaker
2022
Conference for Undergraduate Women in Physics (CUWiP) 2022
Organiser
2022
Structuring light for controlled propagation of optical and atomic solitons
Speaker
2022
Light-mediated interaction in single-mirror feedback systems
Contributor
13/9/2021
Reviewer in the evaluation of the Doctoral Academy Consortium NanoGraz: Functional Nanostructures in Physics, Chemistry and Life Sciences
Consultant
2021

More professional activities

Projects

DTP 2224 University of Strathclyde | Scott, Finlay
Yao, Alison (Principal Investigator) Robb, Gordon (Co-investigator) Scott, Finlay (Research Co-investigator)
01-Jan-2024 - 01-Jan-2028
EPSRC Vacation Internship
Henderson, Grant (Principal Investigator) Roberts, J (Researcher) Yao, Alison (Co-investigator)
Atomtronics from Structured Light in Multispecies Bose-Einstein Condensates
03-Jan-2024 - 09-Jan-2024
Doctoral Training Partnership 2018-19 University of Strathclyde | Henderson, Grant
Yao, Alison (Principal Investigator) Oppo, Gian-Luca (Co-investigator) Henderson, Grant (Research Co-investigator)
01-Jan-2019 - 10-Jan-2023
Doctoral Training Partnership (DTP 2016-2017 University of Strathclyde) | Hill, Lewis
Oppo, Gian-Luca (Principal Investigator) Yao, Alison (Co-investigator) Hill, Lewis (Research Co-investigator)
01-Jan-2017 - 06-Jan-2021
Control and Applications of Structured Light and Chiral Molecules
Yao, Alison (Principal Investigator)
01-Jan-2017 - 31-Jan-2021
Collective effects and optomechanics in ultra-cold matter (ColOpt) (H2020 MCSA ETN)
Ackemann, Thorsten (Principal Investigator) Griffin, Paul (Co-investigator) Oppo, Gian-Luca (Co-investigator) Robb, Gordon (Co-investigator) Yao, Alison (Co-investigator)
01-Jan-2017 - 31-Jan-2020

More projects

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Contact

Dr Alison Yao
Senior Lecturer
Physics

Email: alison.yao@strath.ac.uk
Tel: Unlisted