| Citation | Roy Sambles is distinguished for his experimental studies of the optical properties of thin films and for the application of these to determine the structures present in thin layers of liquid crystals. Following earlier distinguished research on conduction electron spin resonance in metals and on the resistivity of thin films he was responsible for establishing the Exeter Thin Film and Interface Group, which studies the interaction of light with various layered structures and is now of high international standing. Amongst his achievements have been the development of a scattering matrix approach to multilayer optics, surface plasmon and guided mode techniques, including the half?leaky and full?leaky methods, and their use in the study of thin layers of nematic and ferroelectric smectic liquid crystals. His work in the latter area has produced a number of notable 'firsts' in revealing the structures present in these complex systems which are of critical technological importance in the field of liquid crystal electro?optical displays. He has also carried out seminal work on more elaborate and coupled mode structures. His lively group at Exeter produces a regular output of high quality research publications and post?graduate personnel. |