This laboratory is led by Professor Zhang Qinyuan (National Outstanding Youth/Changjiang Scholar) and Associate Professor Wang Weichao, relying on the strong foundation of optics and materials science at South China University of Technology, focusing on cutting-edge fields such as laser glass, rare earth luminescence, and single frequency/high repetition rate fiber lasers. In recent years, the team has actively introduced artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies to inject innovative momentum into the research and development of new laser glass. At the same time, focusing on key issues such as the mechanism of glass formation and structural foundations, deep interdisciplinary integration is carried out with fields such as condensed matter physics and optics.
The laboratory relies on the National Key Laboratory of Luminescent Materials and Devices, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Fiber Laser Materials and Application Technology, and Institute of Optical Communication Materials to build a full chain research and development platform from basic material preparation to device integration. The team has published over a hundred papers in international authoritative journals such as Nature Photonics and Progress in Materials Science, and has won multiple awards including the Second Prize for National Technical Invention and the First Prize for Natural Science in Guangdong Province. They have also been granted more than 20 national invention patents and published three monographs, forming a significant advantage of deep integration of industry, academia, and research and close international cooperation.
The laboratory focuses on cultivating composite top talents with international perspectives. Currently, there are 8 doctoral students and 15 master's students. Several graduate students have been jointly trained in countries such as the United States, Germany, and France through the national public scholarship program. The team of young teachers has repeatedly received funding from the National Innovation Program and Macao Youth Scholars, and actively guided undergraduate students to participate in innovation competitions, achieving excellent results.
In the future, the laboratory will focus on the development of new rare earth doped glasses and high-quality optical fibers, promoting breakthroughs in single frequency and high repetition rate laser technology, and advancing the application of laser glass and fiber lasers in industrial, medical, national defense and other fields. We will continuously improve the integrated undergraduate, master's, and doctoral training system, deepen international cooperation, and strive to build a globally competitive research platform, writing a new chapter in optics and glass technology.
Image 1: Fiber drawing tower and experimental platform
Image 2: Special fiber optics and laser applications
