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Centre for Advanced Instrumentation (CfAI)
Evening sunset view of the telescopes on La Palma
SLODAR telescope

This small telescope, developed by Durham University and ESO, feeds an instrument that monitors the vertical profile of the atmospheric turbulence using the so-called “Slope Detection and Ranging (SLODAR)” technique. It was installed at ESO’s Paranal Observatory in March 2011.

Image of the transportable Wendelstein sodium laser guide star unit in its new enclosure just after sunset

The latest upgrade to the CANARY adaptive optics system was commissioned between the 19th and 25th July with the installation of the European Southern Observatory’s ‘Wendelstein’ sodium Laser Guide Star Unit, sited next to the 4.2m William Herschel Telescope in La Palma.

Physics Research

Precision Optics

Image of a drone sitting on grass

Unmanned Airborne Instrumentation

Blood vessels in a developing Zebrafish brain taken with a Single Plane Illumination Microscope (SPIM)

Brain Vasculature shows the blood vessels in a developing Zebrafish brain taken with a Single Plane Illumination Microscope (SPIM)

Image of Zebrafish Heart showing the actin structure within, taken via SPIM.

Zebrafish Heart shows the actin structure within a Zebrafish heart again taken via SPIM.

Developing state-of-the-art instruments

for use in astronomy, biophysics, remote sensing, fusion diagnostics and much more...

CfAI’s vision is to undertake a world-leading programme of education and research with international impact, based on the development of novel instrumentation and cutting edge technologies with applications across a range of strategically important scientific areas of benefit to modern society. 

It is one of the major research groups in the Physics Department at Durham with approximately 70 staff and research students.

CfAI's vision statement

To undertake a world-leading programme of education and research with international impact, based on the development of novel instrumentation and cutting edge technologies with applications across a range of strategically important scientific areas of benefit to modern society.
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Single Plane Illumination Microscope (SPIM) instrument

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