December 2025 - BNC-all - ecn.purdue.edu

Birck Seminar series, Wed. Jan. 14th, 2pm, Yuheng Chen and Vaishnavi Venkatacha Iyer / ECE, "Machine Learning and Quantum-Assisted Inverse Design for Next-Generation Photonics"
by Neil R Dilley 11 Jan '26

11 Jan '26

MS Teams<https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19%3ameeting_NmJlMzkyOWMtM2EyMC00…> [cid:image001.png@01DC73EA.2B1E4DA0] [cid:image002.png@01DC73EA.2B1E4DA0] -- Neil R. Dilley, Ph.D. Research Manager Birck Nanotechnology Center , Rm 1014 1205 Mitch Daniels Blvd. West Lafayette, IN 47907-2057 765-496-6080

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Winter Recess Notice
by Ronald K Reger 05 Jan '26

05 Jan '26

Announcement On behalf of the Birck Leadership Team....... Dear Birck Research Community, The Purdue Winter Recess begins effective Tuesday afternoon December 23rd and concludes Monday morning, January 5th. The university is officially closed during this time. As we have done in past years, the Birck Nanotechnology Center will remain available for research but will be unstaffed and hazardous gasses will be unavailable. Lab work may otherwise proceed, though any fume hood work must be done with someone else present in the same laboratory or cleanroom bay (the "buddy" system). Following is a description of the Birck center during this period of university closure: 1. All labs and the cleanroom will be open. 2. All hazardous gases will be unavailable. 3. There may be a limited amount of construction continuing during this period, but it is not expected to interfere with research work. 4. Cleanroom gowns, hoods, and booties should be used for as long as possible as new items will not be restocked. 5. Any work that uses highly dermally toxic materials (25% TMAH, BOE, HF) ABSOLUTELY requires a buddy within eyesight at all times. 6. Precursors for ALD systems will be available. 7. No shipping or receiving is being done at any building on campus. 8. The custodians will not be working so restrooms will not be maintained and waste/trash will not be removed. o We encourage users to keep the facility clean and be extra vigilant about the hygiene. 9. Due to the lack of staffing, any faculty and senior researchers present are encouraged to be more proactive (e.g. occasional walk-throughs checking the labs where there is ongoing research). Email cbokrand(a)purdue.edu<mailto:cbokrand@purdue.edu> if you notice anything. Since there will be very limited staff support during this winter recess the research groups are strongly encouraged to accomplish as much processing as possible before gases are turned off on Dec. 23rd. See the following for more detailed information (this will be up on the BNC Wiki): 2025-12-23 to 2026-01-05: Reduced Holiday Operations Due to Purdue's Winter Recess hazardous gases will be unavailable from 2:30 PM Tuesday, December 23th until 8:00 AM on Monday, Jan 5th . Lab work may otherwise proceed, though any fume hood work must be done with someone else present in the same laboratory or cleanroom bay (the "buddy" system). Please note the following changes to our normal operation: o ALD sources will remain available * Unavailable gases: * Ammonia (NH3) * Boron trichloride (BCl3) * Chlorine (Cl2) * Dichlorosilane (H2Cl2Si) * Hydrogen (H2) * Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S) * Krypton Fluoride (KrF) * Methane (CH4) * Nitric Oxide (NO) * Silane (SiH4) * Trichlorosilane (HCl3Si) * Tools affected: * Reduced capability: * PVD Nitride Sputtering System (NH3 unavailable) * Tube 1 Clean Ox (H2 unavailable, dry oxidation only) --- Provided the new furnace is installed by this date. * Tube 4 Field Ox (H2 unavailable, dry oxidation only) --- Provided the new furnace is installed by this date. * Tube 7 General Oxidation (H2 unavailable, dry oxidation only) * Panasonic (Cl2 and BCl3 unavailable) * Plasma-Therm Apex SLR ICP RIE Etcher (H2, Cl2 and BCl3 unavailable) * Plasma-Therm Versaline ICP RIE Etcher (Cl2 and BCl3 unavailable) * Shutdown: * Axic PECVD (NH3 & SiH4 unavailable) * Easy Tube 3000 DVD (CH4 unavailable) * Epigress (SiH4 unavailable) * H2S CVD (H2S & H2 unavailable) * Nitric Oxide Anneal (NO unavailable) * Plasma-Therm Apex SLR HDPCVD (SiH4 unavailable) * Tube 2 Nitride (NH3 and HCl3Si unavailable) * Tube 3 LTO (SiH4 unavailable) * Tube 6 Polysilicon (SiH4 unavailable) * Work with highly dermally toxic materials (25% TMAH, BOE, HF) ABSOLUTELY requires a buddy within eyesight at all times. * Custodial staff will not be working. * There will be no restocking of shared use supplies. * There will be no availability of engineering staff to answer questions or repair down equipment. * On metallization tools sources will not be changed and depositions must be < 200 nm. * "Preliminary" reservations that require staff approval will not be approved during this time. Contact Christian Bokrand (cbokrand(a)purdue.edu<mailto:cbokrand@purdue.edu>) with any questions.

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Birck Seminar Series, January 28th, 2pm -- Microsoft Teams Alex Ruichao Ma/Physics Dept., "Exploring Synthetic Quantum Matter with Superconducting Circuits: How to control and probe quantum correlations using dissipation"
by Neil R Dilley 29 Dec '25

29 Dec '25

Microsoft Teams<https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19%3ameeting_ZWIwYWRlMGMtNjU4YS00…> [cid:image001.png@01DC78F9.1D26E3B0] [cid:image002.png@01DC78F9.1D26E3B0] -- Neil R. Dilley, Ph.D. Research Manager Birck Nanotechnology Center , Rm 1014 1205 Mitch Daniels Blvd. West Lafayette, IN 47907-2057 765-496-6080

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Birck Seminar Series, Alex Ruichao Ma/Physics Dept., "Exploring Synthetic Quantum Matter with Superconducting Circuits: How to control and probe quantum correlations using dissipation"
by Neil R Dilley 29 Dec '25

29 Dec '25

Microsoft Teams<https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19%3ameeting_ZWIwYWRlMGMtNjU4YS00…> [cid:image001.png@01DC78F8.CFCA81D0] [cid:image002.png@01DC78F8.CFCA81D0]

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Birck Seminar series, Yuheng Chen and Vaishnavi Venkatacha Iyer / ECE, "Machine Learning and Quantum-Assisted Inverse Design for Next-Generation Photonics"
by Neil R Dilley 23 Dec '25

23 Dec '25

MS Teams<https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19%3ameeting_NmJlMzkyOWMtM2EyMC00…> [cid:image001.png@01DC73E8.854C0170] [cid:image002.png@01DC73E9.34462A20]

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Birck Seminar featuring Simeon Bogdanov: Engineering faster and warmer quantum photonic systems - December 19th 10:00a.m. in BRK 2001
by Kelli R Dawson 17 Dec '25

17 Dec '25

Hello Birck Community, Please consider attending this Birck seminar on December 19th at 10:00a.m. in BRK 2001 featuring Simeon Bogdanov, Assistant Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. More information on this seminar can be found in the attached flyer. Thank you, Kelli Kelli Dawson, M.Sc Operations Administrator Birck Nanotechnology Center, BRK 1027 O: 765-494-3509 C: 765-532-4519 https://birck.research.purdue.edu/ [cid:0c7b4597-6bfb-4cc4-9303-7770a466de16]

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Happy Holidays from the Birck Nanotechnology Center!
by Kelli R Dawson 15 Dec '25

15 Dec '25

Hello Birck Community, Happy Holidays from the Birck Nanotechnology Center! Since opening our doors in 2005, Birck has grown into one of the nation’s premier academic facilities—advancing research, educating the next-generation workforce, and fostering collaboration between academia, industry, and government. This year, we proudly celebrate two decades of achievement while looking ahead to new opportunities for discovery, partnership, and technological leadership in nanotechnology and beyond. Thank you for your hard work, dedication, and passion that make Birck’s success possible. Wishing you a joyful, restful holiday season surrounded by loved ones, and a bright start to the new year! Thank you and happy holidays! Zhihong Zhihong Chen Reilly Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering Mary Jo and Robert L. Kirk Director of Birck Nanotechnology Center Purdue University 1205 Mitch Daniels Blvd West Lafayette, IN 47907-2057 Tel: (765)494-0772 Fax: (765)496-8299 Email: zhchen(a)purdue.edu<mailto:zhchen@purdue.edu>

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Reminder - Lithography Users: Resist Bottle Clean out
by Christian Bokrand 11 Dec '25

11 Dec '25

Hi All, Photoresist bottle storage in the cleanroom is overfull. If you use Photoresist in the cleanroom and would like to keep your sample, make sure your bottle is labeled with a dated yellow sticker. I've posted instructional signs and stickers on the red Flammables Cabinet and marked refrigerator by the S-bay, and on the spin coater fume hood in N-bay, see below. Let me know if you can't get to your sample by the end of the week, 12/12/2025, and I'll try to assist. Contact me if you need additional stickers or have any questions. [cid:image001.png@01DC6ABA.EBB23BA0] [cid:image002.jpg@01DC6ABA.EBB23BA0] [cid:image003.jpg@01DC6ABA.EBB23BA0] [cid:image004.jpg@01DC6ABA.EBB23BA0] Thank you, Christian Bokrand Senior Research and Safety Engineer Birck Nanotechnology Center | Room 2287 Office: 765.496.7367 | Email: cbokrand(a)purdue.edu<mailto:cbokrand@purdue.edu> [cid:image005.png@01DC6ABA.EBB23BA0]

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December 18th - Birck Holiday Party
by Kelli R Dawson 09 Dec '25

09 Dec '25

Hello Birck Community, 🎄 You’re Invited to Our Holiday Celebration! 🎄 When: December 18th, 2:00–4:00 p.m. Where: Birck Atrium Come spread the Christmas cheer with games, prizes, tasty treats, and a special visit from Santa! 🎅✨ Bring a snack to share if you’d like, and get ready for laughter, fun, and festive surprises. Let’s make this holiday season merry and bright together before the break begins! 🌟 Thank you, Kelli Kelli Dawson, M.Sc Operations Administrator Birck Nanotechnology Center, BRK 1027 O: 765-494-3509 C: 765-532-4519 https://birck.research.purdue.edu/ [cid:d704038a-7b86-44fa-a21a-68b0f69db13f]

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Birck Seminar featuring Simeon Bogdanov: Engineering faster and warmer quantum photonic systems - December 19th 10:00a.m. in BRK 2001
by Kelli R Dawson 09 Dec '25

09 Dec '25

Date: December 19th - 10:00a.m. Location: BRK 2001 Engineering faster and warmer quantum photonic systems. The transformative potential of quantum information technologies from quantum computers and secure networks to quantum-limited sensors is held back by a fundamental challenge: decoherence. Quantum states are fragile and easily disrupted by their environment, making them difficult to maintain and use in practical settings. While protecting systems from decoherence is paramount, a complementary and powerful strategy is to selectively enhance the very quantum interactions on which their functionality depends. By speeding up these key quantum processes, we can effectively outpace decoherence. This pathway also enables operation at higher temperatures and bandwidths. In this talk, we will present two advances that follow this principle. First, we introduce a new quantum emitter in diamond: the IL1 color center, which exhibits surprising natural decoupling from bulk phonons — a major source of decoherence — while simultaneously maintaining bright, fast optical emission. This unique combination of properties is promising to realize cryogen-free quantum network nodes and high-precision nanoscale sensors. Second, we present a blueprint for a high-efficiency microwave-to-optical transducer. To overcome the critical bottleneck of converting quantum information between these domains, our design employs a two-stage process via an intermediate-frequency state in the sub-THz range. This approach promises near-unity external conversion efficiency, dramatic thermal noise suppression, and removes the optical components from the dilution refrigerator, crucial advantages for connecting quantum processors over optical links. Together, these examples demonstrate how exploiting specific physical degrees of freedom that enhance the desired quantum interactions without compromising coherence can open the way to warmer, faster, and more practical quantum systems. Simeon Bogdanov Assistant Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering Univ. of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Simeon obtained his B.Sc. from Ecole Polytechnique in Palaiseau (France) and his M.Sc. from the Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm (Sweden). He did his Ph.D. studies at Northwestern University in the group of Manijeh Razeghi and completed his postdoctoral training at Purdue University under Vladimir M. Shalaev and Sasha Boltasseva. He is currently an Assistant Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. His interests include semiconductor physics, nanoscale and quantum photonics. He is a recipient of a 2023 NSF CAREER Award and is a Senior Member of Optica. Kelli Dawson, M.Sc Operations Administrator Birck Nanotechnology Center, BRK 1027 O: 765-494-3509 C: 765-532-4519 https://birck.research.purdue.edu/ [cid:05eb5c9b-c4fd-46fc-8595-209acbc4a881]

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