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Learn about the fabrication of photonic crystal fibres

We offer a course on photonic crystal fibres for researchers, engineers and PhD students from industry and academia.

Hands-on experience

Participants will get hands-on experience with the complete fabrication cycle, including fibre design, preform preparation and fibre drawing.


All stages of the fabrication process will be explained in a series of dedicated lectures and small group workshops, along with background knowledge and design parameters. Fibre fabrication will be performed by the participants themselves under close and supportive supervision.

Laboratory sessions (~45 hours)

  • getting to know the facilities
  • stacking equipment and techniques
  • preform fabrication
  • drawing of photonic crystal fibres
  • fibre characterisation

Lectures and Seminars (~20 hours)

  • fibre drawing equipment
  • waveguide physics
  • designing photonic crystal fibers
  • physics of glass
  • applications of photonic crystal fibres

The intensive 2-week course will be delivered by the Bath group of professors, academics and technicians who are amongst the world leaders in this area and who have contributed to the development of the world’s first and best photonic crystal fibres.

Course team

  • Professor Tim Birks
  • Dr Enrico Da Como
  • Mr Alan George
  • Dr Andrey Gorbach
  • Professor Jonathan Knight
  • Dr Peter Mosley
  • Mr Steven Renshaw
  • Professor Dmitry Skryabin
  • Dr Paul Snow
  • Professor William Wadsworth

What do previous delegates say?

Testimonials from previous delegates.


The course provided me with improved process practices which I expect to increase productivity on our future projects.

Dr Derrek Drachenberg, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, USA.

Great course in a wonderful city. Course staff were exceedingly friendly and helpful. Highly recommended.

Garry Berkovic, Soreq Nuclear Research Center, Israel.

Course dates and fees

We will announce the next course dates in due course.


Course fee

A fee in the order of £9,500 is charged for this course. The precise fee will be confirmed in 2017. It covers laboratory use, tuition, consumables, learning materials and use of the University library and computer facilities.

It also includes comfortable guest accommodation, lunch, breakfast and the course dinner.

Where does the course take place?

The course takes place within the Centre for Photonics and Photonic Materials (CPPM) at the University of Bath.

Delegates will have access to the wide range of campus facilities including the library which is open 24 hours a day, the Sports Training Village and The Edge.