Staff profiles

Physics, Materials and Sensors

Research students:

• Homanaz Ghaffari
• Sam Lawman
• Andrew Lerwill
• Kathryn Murray.

Areas of research include physics (particularly imaging and optics) applied to art conservation and archaeology, and astronomy and astrophysics.

• Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT): We apply OCT to the non-invasive 3D scanning of paintings and other museum objects to obtain subsurface layer structures and measurements of optical parameters through modelling of absorption and scattering properties of turbid media.
• Multispectral/hyperspectral imaging and colour science: Portable, remote multispectral/hyperspectral imaging systems are being developed for in situ spectral imaging of wall paintings and archaeological sites to enable conservation monitoring and art historic studies. Microfading instruments are being developed to study the relative fading rates of materials used on works of art.  
• Optical properties of paint and varnish: We examine the relationship between the material properties and the optical properties (including the effects of ageing) of varnish and paint material. 
• Clusters of Galaxies and Observational Cosmology: Matter distribution in clusters of galaxies; Cluster magnetic field and non-thermal radio halo emission; Sunyaev-Zel'dovich effect and cosmological parameters.
• Highly polarised astronomical radio sources: What is the nature of the radio sources with ultra high linear polarisation? What makes them different from their low polarisation counterpart?

Current and recent research is being carried out with the collaboration, support and/or funding by the following:

• Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery
• English Heritage
• Gooch and Housego plc
• Historic Royal Palaces
• Leverhulme Trust
• National Astronomical Observatory, China
• Nottingham Castle Museum and Gallery
• Pébéo company, France
• Shaanxi History Museum, China
• Tate
• The British Museum
• The Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)
• The National Gallery, London
• The National Museum of Ireland
• The Royal Society.

University collaborations include University of Sydney (Australia) and University of Kent.

Research funding in the period since 2005 includes the following:

• The next generation Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) for art conservation - in situ non-invasive imaging of the subsurface microstructure of objects, H Liang, M Spring and W Clarkson, AHRC (2010 to 2013), £661,419
• Non-invasive methods for in situ assessing and monitoring the vulnerability of rock art monuments, H Liang, M Bencsik and B Pyatt, AHRC/English Heritage (2009 to 2012), £33,203
• Application of Imaging Science to the Interdisciplinary Study of Wall Paintings along the Silk Road, H Liang and Z QunXi, RCUK (2010), £12,000.
• OCT and multispectral imaging of two old master paintings, H Liang, Shepherd Conservation (2009 to 2010), £6,000
• Understanding complex structures: the conservation, display and interpretation of lace and natural objects, T Fisher, H Liang and M Kite,  AHRC (2009), £23,171
• The nature of highly polarised radio sources, H Liang, Science And Technology Facilities Council (2009), Award of Observing Time
• Imaging the Fadden Moor Bog Bible, H Liang, National Museum of Ireland (2008), £4,500
• Portable remote hyperspectral imaging for in situ examination of wall painting, H Liang, EPSRC EP/E016227/1 (2007 to 2010), £249,915
• Illusions of colour – a science and art collaboration with artist Catherine Baker, H Liang, Simulating Innovation for Success Award (2007 to 2008), £5,000
• Application of a new non-invasive technique (Optical Coherence Tomography) to paintings conservation, H Liang, D Saunders, M Spring and A Podoleanu, Leverhulme Trust Research Project Grant (2006 to 2009), £126,480
• Development of a micro-fading technique as part of the ‘Anoxic Display Frames for Works of Art on Paper’, H Liang, Tate (2006 to 2009), £10,000
• An art history and science collaboration involving regional museums, H Liang and S Burch, Stimulating Innovation for Success Award (2006 to 2007), £9,500
• Optical and material properties of varnish for paintings, H Liang, EPSRC and The National Gallery (2005 to 2010), £70,000
• Non-invasive spectral examination of paintings for art conservation and the study of technical art history, H Liang, Royal Society Research Grant (2005 to 2006), £15,000.

• Member of International Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic works (IIC)
• Member of International Council of Museums, International Committee for Conservation (ICOM-CC)
• Affiliated Member of Institute of Conservation (ICON)
• Visiting Lecturer for University of Kent (2005-2007)
• Expert reviewer for National Science and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC)

Opportunities to carry out postgraduate research towards an MPhil/PhD or MSc by research exist in all the areas identified above. Further information may be obtained from the University Graduate School.