Ray Fairbend

We have learned, with sadness, of the death of Ray Fairbend on 18 September 2024, aged 71. A long-time collaborator with the School of Physics and Astronomy, Ray worked for more than 40 years at Photonis, a multinational high-technology company specialising in photo sensor technology.

Ray Fairbend began his career in chemical engineering and worked his way into electronic engineering for Phillips Mitcham UK Night Vision. He was instrumental in developing and advancing the technologies behind image-quality fibre optics, microchannel plates (MCPs) and micro-pore optics (MPOs). These product advancements resulted in a long-standing partnership with the University of Leicester which produced a number of specially-designed MCP and MPO products for use in the detection and characterisation high energy and space phenomena.

Ray contributed to numerous space science projects in conjunction with the University of Leicester, the European Space Agency and other partner institutions, to improve the quality and sensitivity of micro-channel plates (MCPs) for UV photon, X-ray and charged particle-detection in outer space. He developed key components for a wide range of specialised optical and particle detectors to provide highly sensitive detection of high-energy phenomena on space missions. His innovative contributions include a wide range of products, each of which was custom-designed for a unique space mission. During his tenure at Photonis, he developed large-area MCPs, record breaking low noise MCPs, cylindrically and spherically formed MCPs and uniquely square- and radially-packed square pore microchannel plate optics (MPOs).

His innovations were deployed on a number of specially designed instrument detection projects, including the Hubble Space Telescope. His MCP and MPO developments were installed in various detection instruments on the Chandra, FUSE, EUVE, ALEXIS, Bepi Colombo and Rosetta missions – to name but a few.

In 2011, when the University awarded Ray an Honorary Doctorate of Science, he said: “I do consider that whatever the contributions were, for me they were truly the result of a practical approach to the challenges in hand. I have spent most of my life in laboratory and development environments. I find great pleasure in contributing to understanding and solving practical problems in practical ways.”

Following his retirement, Ray lived in France with his wife Veronique, regularly visited by the couple’s daughter Tanya.

Adrian Martindale writes:

Ray was the technical driving force behind the creation of square pore microchannel plates after George Fraser’s idea to use them to make lobster eye optics. Over many years he progressively improved the techniques until they became the micro pore optics that we have used to deliver our recent space instrument projects and some of our future programmes. Without this work we would have no MIXS, no SVOM and no SMILE. Ray’s legacy will be felt for years to come as these missions deliver new scientific understanding from our solar system to the furthest reaches of the Universe. 

On a personal level I will remember Ray as a humble and diligent engineer, a friend and a true gentleman. I am proud to have worked with Ray and am also proud that the University recognised Ray’s work with an honorary doctorate for his phenomenal contributions to our projects.