Louise Hirst

Louise Hirst is a Professor of Materials Physics at the University of Cambridge, jointly appointed with the Cavendish Laboratory. She is affiliated with the Department of Materials Science & Metallurgy, where she leads research in advanced photovoltaics for space applications.

• Education: BSc, MSc, PhD (Imperial College London)

Her research focuses on III-V semiconductor photovoltaics, particularly ultra-thin (<200 nm) GaAs solar cells for radiation-tolerant space systems. She explores quantum well structures for hot-carrier solar cells and develops computational tools for material characterization.

Recent publications highlight her work on radiation resilience, light management via nanophotonic structures, and quantum confinement effects. Her research group, Space Photovoltaics, addresses challenges in high-efficiency solar cells for satellites, deep-space missions, and unmanned vehicles.

Key research themes include:

• Ultra-thin III-V solar cells with intrinsic radiation tolerance
• Quantum well architectures for hot-carrier energy conversion
• Advanced light-trapping techniques using sub-wavelength structures
• Material characterization via photoluminescence and electron microscopy

Her group's work spans device physics, nanoscale alloy engineering, and scalable fabrication methods for extreme environments.