Professor Jon Lapington

I am Professor of Space Physics in the Space Research Centre at the University of Leicester, where I lead the High-Speed Imaging group. After gaining an MA in Natural Sciences from the University of Cambridge, I obtained a PhD from University College London for research into photon-counting imaging detector technologies for space. I previously worked at the Mullard Space Science Laboratory and the Center for Space Physics at Boston University before joining Space Research Centre at the University of Leicester in 2004. I have been involved in many space missions including YOHKOH, SOHO, XMM-Newton, BepiColombo, and currently Habitable Worlds Observatory, along with several sounding rocket programmes.

My current research activities are focussed on picosecond photon timing and imaging techniques, their diverse applications, and the development of novel detector technologies. I lead the UK collaboration developing cameras for the Cherenkov Telescope Array, an international facility for very high energy gamma-ray astronomy. My research interests have spread into particle physics and I am a member of the LHCb Collaboration, and coordinator for the time-of-flight particle identification work package within the CERN Detector R&D programme to develop new technologies for future colliders.

My research interests centre on the physics of optical, UV and X-ray photon, and particle counting detector systems, and their application to high speed, imaging, photon-counting detector design, primarily for space science missions, but latterly, for other research sectors, particularly particle physics, where high throughput imaging in combination with event timing down to the picosecond regime, are required.

I began my career as an experimental physicist, focussing on the development of high-resolution electronic imaging techniques for photomultipliers and gas proportional counters used in UV and X-ray space-based astronomical instrumentation. I have invented and patented several new electronic image readout techniques for photon-counting detector systems and has developed novel detectors for ESA and NASA space missions. I currently lead the camera development at Leicester for the Small Size Telescopes on the Cherenkov Telescope Array.

My research also includes new possibilities for detector miniaturisation and integration including the use of smart materials such as CVD diamond and graphene, and exploitation of detector and electronics technologies developed for space and particle physics for other fields. Current work involves the application of time-resolved photon-counting, imaging, and spectroscopy techniques to life-science applications. I am also coordinator of the time-of-flight particle identification work package, part of the CERN Detector R&D programme (DRD4) to develop new technologies for future colliders.

Recent publications include:
Lapington, J. S., et al. "Transmission dynodes: Enhancing vacuum photodetectors." NIM-A (2026): 171792.

Davidson, A., et al. "Next generation microchannel plate detectors for high spatial and temporal resolution." JInst. 20.06 (2025): C06018.

Lapington, J. S., and CTA SST Collaboration. "The silicon photomultiplier-based camera for the Cherenkov Telescope Array small-sized telescopes." NIM-A (2023): 168433.

I am an Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.

PA2230 Condensed Matter Physics, Unit 2: Electrons in Crystals, Unit 3: Semiconductors and Superconductivity.

I also run two 4th year experimental projects in muon charge ratio measurement and the characterisation of silicon photomultiplier detectors.

I am currently tutor for three 4th year MPhys students.

Ph.D., Space Physics, 2003, University College London

M.A., Natural Sciences, 1981, University of Cambridge