Dr William Bryan

Associate Professor

Physics

+44 (0) 1792 295301

w.a.bryan@swansea.ac.uk

Office - 602
Sixth Floor
Vivian Building
Singleton Campus

Available For Postgraduate Supervision

Research Links

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2278-055X

ResearchGate

Google Scholar

About

Will studied Physics at University College London, with his PhD research examining how molecules explode when illuminated with intense pulses of laser light. He developed expertise in the interaction of very short pulses of light with matter, and now makes use of femtosecond pulses of electrons as an ultrafast imaging tool. The underlying thread connecting his research is the imaging of nanoscale dynamic processes.

Highlights include the first electron momentum imaging from a nanoscale metal tip (NJP 16, 103031), the first femtosecond electron microscopy demonstration in the UK (Structural Dynamics 3, 023612), and a novel observation of atomic excitation during ionization (Nature Phys 2, 379).

Areas Of Expertise

Femtosecond electron microscopy and diffraction from gas, liquid and solid phases
Low-energy electron point-projection microscopy
Ultrafast electron emission from nanoscale metal tips
Femtosecond XUV-NIR and UV-NIR pump-probe spectroscopy in gas ph

Publications

Research Highlights

Murooka, Y., Bryan, W., Clarke, J., Ellis, M., Kirkland, A., Maskell, S., McKenzie, J., Mehdi, B., Miller, R., Noakes, T., Robinson, I., Schroeder, S., Thor, J., Welsch, C., & Browning, N. (2023). The Design of Relativistic Ultrafast Electron Diffraction and Imaging (RUEDI) Facility for Materials in Extremes. Microscopy and Microanalysis, 29(Supplement_1), 1487-1488.
https://doi.org/10.1093/micmic/ozad067.764, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa65185
http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/micmic/ozad067.764
Browning, N., Bryan, W., Clarke, J., Ellis, M., Kirkland, A., Maskell, S., McKenzie, J., Mehdi, B., Miller, R., Murooka, Y., Noakes, T., Robinson, I., Schroeder, S., Thor, J., Welsch, C., & Bryan, W. (2022). The Design and Operation of a New Relativistic Ultrafast Electron Diffraction and Imaging (RUEDI) National Facility in the UK. Microscopy and Microanalysis, 28(S1), 2764-2765.
https://doi.org/10.1017/s1431927622010406, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa65184
http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s1431927622010406
Bryan, R., Gagen, M., Bryan, W., Wilson, G., & Gagen, E. (2022). Reaching out to the hard-to-reach: mixed methods reflections of a pilot Welsh STEM engagement project. SN Social Sciences, 2(2)
https://doi.org/10.1007/s43545-021-00311-6, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa59146
Barlow Myers, C., Pine, N., Bryan, W., & Bryan, W. (2018). Femtosecond transmission electron microscopy for nanoscale photonics: a numerical study. Nanoscale, 10(44), 20628-20639.
https://doi.org/10.1039/C8NR06235H, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa45450
pubs.rsc.org/en/Content/ArticleLanding/2018/NR/C8NR06235H
Bainbridge, A., Myers, C., Bryan, W., & Bryan, W. (2016). Femtosecond few- to single-electron point-projection microscopy for nanoscale dynamic imaging. Structural Dynamics, 3(2), 023612
https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4947098, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa27343

All Research

Journal Articles

Murooka, Y., Bryan, W., Clarke, J., Ellis, M., Kirkland, A., Maskell, S., McKenzie, J., Mehdi, B., Miller, R., Noakes, T., Robinson, I., Schroeder, S., Thor, J., Welsch, C., & Browning, N. (2023). The Design of Relativistic Ultrafast Electron Diffraction and Imaging (RUEDI) Facility for Materials in Extremes. Microscopy and Microanalysis, 29(Supplement_1), 1487-1488.
https://doi.org/10.1093/micmic/ozad067.764, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa65185
http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/micmic/ozad067.764
Browning, N., Bryan, W., Clarke, J., Ellis, M., Kirkland, A., Maskell, S., McKenzie, J., Mehdi, B., Miller, R., Murooka, Y., Noakes, T., Robinson, I., Schroeder, S., Thor, J., Welsch, C., & Bryan, W. (2022). The Design and Operation of a New Relativistic Ultrafast Electron Diffraction and Imaging (RUEDI) National Facility in the UK. Microscopy and Microanalysis, 28(S1), 2764-2765.
https://doi.org/10.1017/s1431927622010406, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa65184
http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s1431927622010406
Bryan, R., Gagen, M., Bryan, W., Wilson, G., & Gagen, E. (2022). Reaching out to the hard-to-reach: mixed methods reflections of a pilot Welsh STEM engagement project. SN Social Sciences, 2(2)
https://doi.org/10.1007/s43545-021-00311-6, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa59146
Barlow Myers, C., Pine, N., Bryan, W., & Bryan, W. (2018). Femtosecond transmission electron microscopy for nanoscale photonics: a numerical study. Nanoscale, 10(44), 20628-20639.
https://doi.org/10.1039/C8NR06235H, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa45450
pubs.rsc.org/en/Content/ArticleLanding/2018/NR/C8NR06235H
Bainbridge, A., Myers, C., Bryan, W., & Bryan, W. (2016). Femtosecond few- to single-electron point-projection microscopy for nanoscale dynamic imaging. Structural Dynamics, 3(2), 023612
https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4947098, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa27343
Bainbridge, A., Harrington, J., Kirrander, A., Cacho, C., Springate, E., Bryan, W., Minns, R., & Bryan, W. (2015). VUV excitation of a vibrational wavepacket in D2 measured through strong-field dissociative ionization. New Journal of Physics, 17(10), 103013
https://doi.org/10.1088/1367-2630/17/10/103013, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa23762
http://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1367-2630/17/10/103013
Bainbridge, A., Bryan, W., & Bryan, W. (2014). Velocity map imaging of femtosecond laser induced photoelectron emission from metal nanotips. New Journal of Physics, 16(10), 103031
https://doi.org/10.1088/1367-2630/16/10/103031, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa20244
http://iopscience.iop.org/1367-2630/16/10/103031
Bryan, W., Frassetto, F., Froud, C., Turcu, I., King, R., Calvert, C., Nemeth, G., Villoresi, P., Poletto, L., Springate, E., & Bryan, W. (2012). Isolated high-harmonic XUV photon absorption and NIR strong-field tunnel ionization. New Journal of Physics, 14(1)
https://doi.org/10.1088/1367-2630/14/1/013057, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa7728
Bryan, W., Calvert, C., King, R., Nemeth, G., Alexander, J., Greenwood, J., Froud, C., Turcu, I., Springate, E., Newell, W., Williams, I., & Bryan, W. (2011). Redistribution of vibrational population in a molecular ion with nonresonant strong-field laser pulses. Physical Review A, 83(2), 021406
https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.83.021406, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa1106
Bryan, W., Calvert, C., King, R., Greenwood, J., Newell, W., & Williams, I. (2011). Controlled redistribution of vibrational population by few-cycle strong-field laser pulses. Faraday Discussions, 153
https://doi.org/10.1039/c1fd00042j, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa7720
Frassetto, F., Cacho, C., Froud, C., Turcu, I., Villoresi, P., Bryan, W., Springate, E., Poletto, L., & Bryan, W. (2011). Single-grating monochromator for extreme-ultraviolet ultrashort pulses. Optics Express, 19(20), 19169-19181.
https://doi.org/10.1364/OE.19.019169, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa7722
Greenwood, J., Kelly, O., Calvert, C., Duffy, M., King, R., Belshaw, L., Graham, L., Alexander, J., Williams, I., Bryan, W., Turcu, I., Cacho, C., Springate, E., & Bryan, W. (2011). A comb-sampling method for enhanced mass analysis in linear electrostatic ion traps. Review of Scientific Instruments, 82(4)
https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3572331, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa7724
Nemeth, G., Bryan, W., & Bryan, W. (2011). Modelling beam-transport diffraction in near-infrared few-cycle strong-field experiments. Journal of Modern Optics, 58(13)-1214.
https://doi.org/10.1080/09500340.2011.583073, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa7726
Bryan, W., Calvert, C., King, R., Nemeth, G., Greenwood, J., Williams, I., Newell, W., & Bryan, W. (2010). Quasi-classical model of non-destructive wavepacket manipulation by intense ultrashort nonresonant laser pulses. New Journal of Physics, 12(7), 073019
https://doi.org/10.1088/1367-2630/12/7/073019, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa1107
Calvert, C., Bryan, W., Newell, W., Williams, I., & Bryan, W. (2010). Time-resolved studies of ultrafast wavepacket dynamics in hydrogen molecules. Physics Reports, 491(1), 1-28.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.physrep.2009.12.004, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa1108
Calvert, C., King, R., Bryan, W., Newell, W., McCann, J., Greenwood, J., Williams, I., & Bryan, W. (2010). Multi-pulse scheme for enhancing electron localization through vibrational wavepacket manipulation. Journal of Physics B: Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics, 43(1), 011001
https://doi.org/10.1088/0953-4075/43/1/011001, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa1109
Bryan, W., Calvert, C., King, R., Nemeth, G., Greenwood, J., Williams, I., Newell, W., & Bryan, W. (2010). Quasi-classical model of non-destructive wavepacket manipulation by intense ultrashort nonresonant laser pulses. New Journal of Physics, 12(7), 073019
https://doi.org/10.1088/1367-2630/12/7/073019, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa5310
Calvert, C., King, R., Birkeland, T., Alexander, J., Greenwood, J., Bryan, W., Newell, W., Murphy, D., McCann, J., Williams, I., & Bryan, W. (2009). Pathways to state-selective control of vibrational wavepackets in the deuterium molecular ion. Journal of Modern Optics, 56(9)-1069.
https://doi.org/10.1080/09500340902919444, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa7719
Alexander, J., Calvert, C., King, R., Kelly, O., Bryan, W., Nemeth, G., Newell, W., Froud, C., Turcu, I., Springate, E., Orr, P., Pedregosa-Gutierrez, J., Walter, C., Williams, R., Williams, I., Greenwood, J., & Bryan, W. (2009). Short pulse laser-induced dissociation of vibrationally cold, trapped molecular ions. Journal of Physics B: Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics, 42(15), 154027
https://doi.org/10.1088/0953-4075/42/15/154027, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa7721
Alexander, J., Calvert, C., King, R., Kelly, O., Graham, L., Bryan, W., Nemeth, G., Newell, W., Froud, C., Turcu, I., Springate, E., Williams, I., Greenwood, J., & Bryan, W. (2009). Photodissociation of D+3in an intense, femtosecond laser field. Journal of Physics B: Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics, 42(14)
https://doi.org/10.1088/0953-4075/42/14/141004, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa7727
Kajumba, N., Torres, R., Underwood, J., Robinson, J., Baker, S., Tisch, J., Nalda, R., Bryan, W., Velotta, R., Altucci, C., Procino, I., Turcu, I., Marangos, J., & Bryan, W. (2008). Measurement of electronic structure from high harmonic generation in non-adiabatically aligned polyatomic molecules. New Journal of Physics, 10(2)
https://doi.org/10.1088/1367-2630/10/2/025008, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa7723
Bryan, W., English, E., McKenna, J., Wood, J., Calvert, C., Turcu, I., Torres, R., Collier, J., Williams, I., Newell, W., & Bryan, W. (2007). Mapping the evolution of optically generated rotational wave packets in a room-temperature ensemble of D_{2}. Physical Review A, 76(2), 4 pages
https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.76.023414, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa1592
Bryan, W., Newell, W., Sanderson, J., Langley, A., & Bryan, W. (2006). Observation of multiple ionization pathways for OCS in an intense laser field resolved by three-dimensional covariance mapping and visualized by hierarchical ionization topology. Physical Review A, 74(5), 11 pages
https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.74.053409, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa1593
Bryan, W., Stebbings, S., McKenna, J., English, E., Suresh, M., Wood, J., Srigengan, B., Turcu, I., Smith, J., Divall, E., Hooker, C., Langley, A., Collier, J., Williams, I., Newell, W., & Bryan, W. (2006). Atomic excitation during recollision-free ultrafast multi-electron tunnel ionization. Nature Physics, 2(6), 379-383.
https://doi.org/10.1038/nphys310, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa1594
Greenwood, J., Johnston, I., McKenna, P., Williams, I., Goodworth, T., Sanderson, J., Bryan, W., El-Zein, A., Newell, W., Langley, A., Divall, E., & Bryan, W. (2002). Suppression of Multiple Ionization of Atomic Ions in Intense Ultrafast Laser Pulses. Physical Review Letters, 88(23), 4 pages
https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.88.233001, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa1591

Conference Contributions

Turcu, I., Springate, E., Froud, C., Cacho, C., Collier, J., Bryan, W., Nemeth, G., Marangos, J., Tisch, J., Torres, R., Siegel, T., Brugnera, L., Underwood, J., Procino, I., Newell, W., Altucci, C., Velotta, R., King, R., Alexander, J...., & Roper, M. (2009). Ultrafast science and development at the Artemis facility. In SPIE Proceedings: Ninth Conference on Optics: Micro- to Nanophotonics II, (May 17, 2010)SPIE.
https://doi.org/10.1117/12.867540, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa7725

Supervision

The Effect of Radiation on Solar Cell (current)

PhD

Other supervisor: Dr Wing Chung Tsoi
Use of Raman Spectroscopy in the Evaluation of Materials Used in In-Vitro Diagnostic Devices (current)

PhD

Other supervisor: Prof Peter Dunstan
Characterisation and Functionalisation of Ultrabithorax Materials for Biosensing (awarded 2024)

PhD

Other supervisor: Prof Peter Dunstan

Taught Modules

PH-021 Mechanics

An introduction to forces, motion and Newton's Laws, without calculus.
PH-210 Laboratory Physics 2 and Group Projects

The objective of this module is for students to carry out a range of physical measurements and to collate data in a structured manner. Students will be familiarised with various software packages for the collation, analysis and representation of data. They will be expected to keep neat and comprehensive laboratory notebooks, and to write lucid reports of their experiments. The students will also get experience of working within a team (or group) environment on a five-week project.
PH-210C Ffiseg Labordy 2 a Phrosiectau Grwp

Amcan y modiwl hwn yw i fyfyrwyr i wneud amrywiaeth o fesuriadau ffisegol ac i gasglu'r data mewn modd strwythuredig. Bydd myfyrwyr yn dod i arfer â gwahanol becynnau o feddalwedd ar gyfer coladu, dadansoddi a chynrychioli data. Bydd disgwyl iddynt gadw llyfrau labordy taclus a cynhwysfawr, ac i ysgrifennu adroddiadau eglur o'u harbrofion. Bydd y myfyrwyr hefyd yn cael profiad o weithio mewn amgylchedd tîm (neu gr¿p) ar brosiect pum wythnos.
PH-211 Laboratory Physics 2

The objective of this module is for students to carry out a range of physical measurements and to collate data in a structured manner. Students will be familiarised with various software packages for the collation, analysis and representation of data. They will be expected to keep neat and comprehensive laboratory notebooks, and to write lucid reports of their experiments. The students will also get experience of working within a team (or group) environment on a five-week project.
PH-211C Ffiseg Labordy 2

Amcan y modiwl hwn yw i fyfyrwyr i wneud amrywiaeth o fesuriadau ffisegol ac i gasglu'r data mewn modd strwythuredig. Bydd myfyrwyr yn dod i arfer â gwahanol becynnau o feddalwedd ar gyfer coladu, dadansoddi a chynrychioli data. Bydd disgwyl iddynt gadw llyfrau labordy taclus a cynhwysfawr, ac i ysgrifennu adroddiadau eglur o'u harbrofion. Bydd y myfyrwyr hefyd yn cael profiad o weithio mewn amgylchedd tîm (neu gr¿p) ar brosiect pum wythnos.

Key Grants and Projects

Swansea Science for Schools Scheme (S4) as part of Trio Sci Cymru 2018 - 2021

Along with Professor Mary Gagen (Dept of Geography), Will is the Co-Principal Investigator on the S4 programme, which has produced STEM-enhancement activities with school kids across South Wales since 2012., £2M

Public Engagements

Will is the Deputy Director (Creative) of Oriel Science, and is a Co-Investigator on a number of Citizen Science and Public Engagement grants.

Dr William Bryan

Telephone number

Email address

Research Links

About

Areas Of Expertise

Research Highlights

All Research

The Effect of Radiation on Solar Cell (current)

Use of Raman Spectroscopy in the Evaluation of Materials Used in In-Vitro Diagnostic Devices (current)

Characterisation and Functionalisation of Ultrabithorax Materials for Biosensing (awarded 2024)

PH-021 Mechanics

PH-210 Laboratory Physics 2 and Group Projects

PH-210C Ffiseg Labordy 2 a Phrosiectau Grwp

PH-211 Laboratory Physics 2

PH-211C Ffiseg Labordy 2