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 Success StoriesThe Institute for Microstructural Sciences (IMS) has an impressive record of achievements. These achievements illustrate the ability of IMS to collaborate effectively with its clientele and create an infrastructure which fosters scientific excellence and technological relevance. IMS successes:
Canadian Photonics Fabrication Centre After an exhaustive campaign which saw the combined effort of IMS staff, Corporate staff and external supporters, funding for the CPFC was announced as part of the December 2001 federal budget. That IMS was able to win popular support from industry and have that support translate into funding from both the federal and provincial governments testifies to its prominence with its external stakeholders. The Centre will provide fabrication facilities for unique photonic and optoelectronic components and help companies reduce their time to market by providing prototyping and manufacturability testing services. It will also allow companies to produce small runs of specialized devices, as well as provide training for students. The CPFC is a joint project with Carleton University. IMS Puts A New "Spin" On Things The Quantum Theory Group at IMS - from right to left: Dr. Rick Leavens, Dr. Chandre Dharma-wardana Dr. Pawel Hawrylak, Dr. Geof Aers and Dr. Jordan Kyrakidis A group of scientists working in the area of quantum information and nanofabrication, led by Drs. Pawel Hawrylak and Andy Sachrajda, successfully created a prototype of a single spin transistor. The prototype device created at IMS shows how a single-spin based transistor might work. This device consists of a quantum dot connected to spin-polarized leads, and follows on the Institute’s groundbreaking work into quantum dots. The research was announced in an article published in Physical Review Letters, June 2002 issue, and has generated interest from many sources, including internet research news sites (Globe and Mail high tech website, Sci-Tech page of Newsfactor website, ACM Tech News/Nature on-line), newspaper coverage (the Ottawa Citizen, Toronto Star) and local television coverage. Quantum Dot ResearchQuantum Dot Research - the future now Advances in research into the quantum dot phenomena made by scientists at IMS have resulted in a recent article in Nature Magazine and have attracted international recognition. The research, a collaboration between IMS and the University of Wurzburg, has led to the ability to probe a single quantum dot and gradually increase the number of electrons and holes populating it. This is equivalent to creating artificial atoms and building a man-made periodic table. By carefully controlling the excitation, the scientists were able to study the interaction of many electrons and holes (excitons), observing the difference in their emission spectra and providing important insight into the physics of such quantum systems. These nanostructures confining carriers will play a crucial role in future technologies with the miniaturization of semiconductor devices for electronics and photonics applications. Background Quantum Dots (QD) can be used in semiconductor lasers, where they exhibit quantum behavior such as predictable and controllable energy levels. Because they dissipate less heat, they can be packed together tightly, forming arrays and ultimately smaller devices. The hope is to use these highly efficient, quantum dot lasers to transmit data more efficiently and at higher rates through optical fibre networks. A more distant hope is the application of QDs in improved optical memory.  Dr. Sylvain Charbonneau in the photonics lab, IMS Solid State Optoelectronics Consortium (SSOC)The success of the SSOC in bringing together members from Industry, Universities and Government in the pursuit of a common technological goal was a major achievement. The choice to focus effort on the development of integrated photonic devices for wavelength division multiplexing on a single chip proved to be visionary. Other SSOC successes included world-leading achievements in the development of 1.5 mm QW lasers, circular grating lasers, distributed feedback (DFB) lasers and an optical time domain reflectometer. Optoelectronics based industries are rapidly growing in economic value and Canadian competence in these enabling technologies is of crucial importance. Canadian Audio Research Consortium (CARC)Canadian loudspeaker companies are recognized as among the best in the world, a situation which owes much to the acoustics research of NRC. Building on this collaboration CARC was formed to develop an interactive speaker technology. The technology generated through this consortium served to strengthen its members international reputation in this highly competitive market. CERION AgreementA carry-on to a highly successful international agreement with the European community, the CERION (which stands for Canadian-European Research Initiative on Nanostructures) agreement positions IMS as a major player in nanostructure research. The agreement which was initiated by IMS includes eight Canadian organizations, providing a link to European researchers working in the area of nanotechnology through exchange visits, joint projects and annual workshops. A testament to the vision and international reputation of IMS researchers, CERION provides the means for effective and productive communication with our European counterparts in this important research area. Spin-Off SuccessesIn keeping with NRC's entrepreneurial spirit, recent IMS industrial highlights include the successful spin-off of technology developed in the laboratory to companies uniquely positioned to bring this technology to market.
Anti-counterfeitingIn response to the Bank of Canada's requirement for practical anti- counterfeiting devices, NRC developed an accurate, cost effective process and precision controlled thin film deposition equipment. The result was the first patent in Canada, U.S. and Britain for optical security devices based on thin films technology. This security device can be found on all new Canadian bank notes, from the $20 to $1,000 bill. Research in this area continues with the development of new processes and techniques to protect compact discs from counterfeiting. |
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