WEEKLY MEMO, April 14, 2008 **************** 1. Announcements **************** 1.1: TODAY: 2nd Annual BNC Research Review, 1:00PM, MRGN 121. Program to include Tim Sands, ³The Birck Nanotechnology Center Progress, Opportunities, and Challenges²; Evgenii Narimanov, ³Metamaterials for Future Photonics²; Donald Bergstrom, ³Carbon Nanotubes as Nucleic Acid Carriers²; Gerhard Klimeck, ³nanoHUB Future Cyberinfrastructure Serving over 60,000 Users Today²; Jayathi Murthy, ³An Introduction to PRISM and MEMS Simulation²; and David Janes on nanoelectronics. A poster review and session will also be included in this year¹s activities. Visit www.nano.purdue.edu <http://www.nano.purdue.edu> for the most up-to-date information regarding this year¹s Annual Research Review. ******Participant Reception****** 5:30, Birck Atrium, 2nd floor, Cleanroom entrance area: PIZZA, PIZZA, PIZZA 1.2: CARD READERS: Work has begun on the installation of the BNC card reader system. This project will take several weeks and includes wiring each BNC lab door for card-swipe entry. Researchers at Birck can expect to see electricians in their labs and in some cases may be asked to briefly suspend experiments as ceiling tiles are removed and wiring is run through the lab. Some cutting and grinding can also be expected as the card readers are mounted on each lab door. Please remove unnecessary items from the laboratories and galleys (empty boxes, trash, etc). And let the electricians know if there is an experiment in progress that precludes them from working in the laboratory as scheduled. This week (April 14th - 18th) installation will continue on the 2nd Floor West Lab Wing (Rooms 22XX). Work should focus on the galleys but may extend into BRK 2217, 2221, 2233, 2239, 2261, 2277, 2283. If you have any issues or concerns please contract Mary Jo Totten (61173) or Mark Voorhis (43036). 1.3: LANDSCAPING: Additional landscaping work will be taking place around the BNC to repair several problems with the existing landscape. These should have a minimal affect on the building, but at times may have sidewalks temporarily closed. Additionally, there will be some noise- and vibration-creating activities where concrete must be cut and removed. This work will take place between May 1 and June 19, 2008. Major vibration-creating activities are planned for mornings during the week of May 5. Please contact John Weaver jrweaver@purdue.edu if this timing is problematic. ******************** 2. TOURS/VISITORS ******************** 2.1: Friday, April 18, 8:00AM: Rotary GSE team from Africa ******************** 3. SEMINARS ******************** 3.1: Monday, April 14, 3:00 refreshments, 3:15 seminar, ARMS 1010: ³Electromigration in Flip Chip Solder Joint Technology,² by King-Ning Tu, Materials Science and Engineering, UCLA. ABSTRACT: The demand of flip chip technology in high density packaging for advanced electronic consumer products is growing rapidly. Due to the decrease in device size and increase in functionality, electromigration has now become the most serious reliability problem in flip chip solder joints, especially the Pb-free. It has several unique features that are very different from the electromigration in Al and Cu interconnects. Solder alloy has a very small critical product of electromigration, thus it can fail at 103 A/cm2. Owing to the line-to-bump geometry in flip chip, current crowding occurs at the contact between the line and the bump and the failure mode of electromigration is a pancake-type void formation at the cathode. Again due to current crowding, whiskers can be squeezed out at the anode. Joule heating due to Al or Cu interconnects can cause a very large temperature gradient in the solder joint, so thermomigration accompanies electromigration. In this talk, these reliability issues of flip chip solder joints will be presented. BIO: King-Ning Tu received his B. Sc. Degree in Mechanical Engineering from National Taiwan University in 1960, M. Sc. degree in Materials Science from Brown University in 1964, and Ph. D. degree in Applied Physics from Harvard University in 1968. He spent 25 years at IBM T. J. Watson Research Center as Research Staff Member in Physical Science Department. During that period, he also served as Senior Manager of Thin Film Science Department and Materials Science Department for 10 years. In September 1993, he joined the Dept. of Materials Science and Engineering at UCLA as full professor. He was chairman of the Department for six years from 1998 to 2004. He is a Fellow of American Physical Society, The Metallurgical Society (TMS), and an Overseas Fellow of Churchill College, Cambridge University, UK. He was president of Materials Research Society in 1981. He received the Application to Practice Award from TMS in 1988, the Distinguished Scientist Award from the Electronic, Magnetic, and Photonic Materials Division of TMS in 2006, and Humboldt Award for US Senior Scientists in 1996. He has been elected a member of Academia Sinica, Republic of China in 2002. He has over 400 journal publications with citations over 10000 and h-factor of 58. He co-authored a textbook on ³Electronic thin Film Science,² published by Macmillan in 1992, and authored a book on ³Solder joint technology² published by Springer in July 2007. His research interests are in metal-silicon reactions, solder reactions, nanoscale reactions, polarity effect of electromigration on interfacial reactions, and kinetic theories of interfacial reactions. His website is http://www.seas.ucla.edu/eThinFilm/ <http://www.seas.ucla.edu/eThinFilm/> 3.2: Monday, April 14, 2008, 5:30PM, Beering 2280: ³The Role of Interior Designers in Healthcare,² by Ana Maregatti 3.3: Wednesday, April 16, 6:00PM, PIZZA AND BEVERAGES served; MRGN 121: ³Ethical Issues in Contructing and Usng Biobanks,² by Eric M. Meslin, PhD; Director of the Indiana University Center for Bioethics; Professor of Medicine, and of Medical and Molecular Genetics; Indiana University of Medicine; Professor of Philosophy, School of Liberal Arts; Associate Dean, Bioethics, Indiana University School of Medicine 3.4: Thursday, April 17, 10:00AM, BRK 1001: ³Magnetic and Semiconductor Nanostructures for Ultra High Density Magnetic Recording,² by Ernesto E. Marinero ABSTRACT: Magnetic recording aims to achieve recording densities of 1012 bits/in2 in the foreseeable future. Critical dimensions of the magnetic domains and the sensors required to detect their flux at this density will be of the order of 15nm or less. These nanoscale dimensions present major materials and fabrication challenges to both the magnetic materials utilized for storing the bits, and to the sensor devices. This talk will review ongoing efforts to achieve highly uniform nanostructured magnetic recording materials comprising magnetic grains (islands) of ¾ 5 nm in diameter, segregated by a secondary non-magnetic phase. Mesoscopic sensors based on GMR and TMR based ferromagnetic materials are expected to be inadequate for sensing magnetic domains ¾ 15 nm on account of thermal instabilities (mag noise) and spin-torque effects. Therefore, magnetic sensor devices employing non-ferromagnetic materials are needed. Nanoscopic semiconductor quantum well heterostructures offer a potential solution and I will describe our ongoing research in this area. BIO: Ernesto Marinero received his BSc and PhD degrees in Physics from Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, United Kingdom. His research experience has been gained through various appointments in Europe and the USA. This includes basic and applied research at the Max Planck Institute in Goettingen, Germany; Stanford University and the IBM and Hitachi Research Centers in San Jose California. His technical expertise includes Materials Science, Semiconductor Physics, Growth of Nanostructured Materials and Thin Films, Laser Physics and Picosecond Phenomena, Laser-Materials Processing, Atomic and Molecular Spectroscopy, Hydrogen Quantum Chemistry, Optoelectronics, Characterization and Metrology, Thin Film Corrosion and Reliability, Magnetic Materials and Magnetic Recording Technology, Phase-Change Storage and Nanoscale Sensor Device Physics and Fabrication. His work has been widely published in the scientific literature and utilized in IBM's and Hitachi¹s technology products. His original research is the subject of numerous US, Asian and European patents. Marinero is currently at the Hitachi San Jose Research Center and his research focuses on two key areas: 1) synthesis of new nanostructured magnetic materials that and 2) research on electron transport of mesoscopic devices based on semiconductor 2DEG heterostructures with particular emphasis on ballistic transport and quantum transport. He is actively involved in collaborative research programs with academic institutions in the USA, Mexico and the UK through joint research programs in nanoscience and nanotechnology. 3.5: Friday, April 18, 3:00 refreshments, PHYS 242; 3:30 seminar, PHYS 223: Condensed Matter and Biological Physics Seminar, ³In Search of the Perfect Semiconductor Photon Detector,² Peter Yu, University of California, Berkeley ASBSTRACT: Photon detectors have many important applications, such as inheat sensing, digital cameras, solar cells and x-ray and gamma-ray detection. So far, the most common detectors are based on elemental semiconductors, such as Si and Ge. However, they are by no means perfect in tackling some of the important problems facing the modern society. For example, thin films solar cells are not yet as economical as coal/gas fired power generators. For homeland security applications, high energy radiation detectors are too bulky and require cryogenic cooling. In this talk I shall describe a joint effort between theorists and experimentalists at Berkeley to look for new semiconductor detectors with better performance than existing detectors. On the experimental side, combinatorial techniques are utilized to allow for fast growth and characterization of a large library of new semiconductors synthesized by laser ablation. On the theory front, computational techniques are developed to allow for the prediction ofall the properties of semiconductors relevant to photon detection. By ³all², we mean electronic, optical, vibrational, transport, magnetic anddefect properties. While this ambitious project is still in progress, Ishall describe some new and interesting results we have found in the well-studied zincblende- and wurtzite-type semiconductors. We have obtained new insights into the effects of transition and rare-earth metal dopants, such as Cu and Gd, on the transport and magnetic properties of the host semiconductor. 3.6: Friday, April 18, 2008, 3:30PM, EE117: ³Multiphysics Modeling of Molecules and Materials,² by Hans Agren, Theoretical Chemistry, Royal Institute of Technology, Stockhololm Sweden ABSTRACT: With ³multiphysics modeling² we combine methods that have different physical content in order to obtain a more complete view of an applied problem. In materials science this can involve methods that bridge length and time scales; in length from atomistic to macroscopic levels through "electrons, atoms, grains and grids"; in time from femtosecond electron dynamics to slow processes perceived by humans. The combination can be obtained in terms of integrated algorithms or simply by piping datasets from one model to the other. Quantum mechanics is central in many such combinations as the microscopic light-matter interaction requires a quantum description. In the first part of my talk I will therefore describe some development in the quantum description of properties, in particular so-called response theory. Its implementation in the context of density functional theory, see e.g. [1], that is time-depdendent density functional theory (TDDFT), has been very successful in recent years in calculations of molecular properties also of quite large systems. Such applications cover a large wavelength region, from the X-ray region, over the optical and infrared regions and to the microwave and radiofrequency regions where electron and nuclear magnetic resonance experiments are carried out. In the final part of my talk I will bring up some contemporary research problems where the multiphysics concept has been applied, like; design of materials for optical control, where the combination of quantum mechanics (QM) and classical electrodynamics is applied [1]; the design of electro-optical switching materials through combination of QM and classical dynamics (QM and MD) [2]; studies of multiphoton induced light emission in quantum dots with QM coupled to statistical mechanics [3]; solvent effects on non-linear effects with polarizable continuum models [4], i.e. combining QM with dielectric theory. ([1] Density-functional theory of linear and nonlinear time-dependent molecular properties, P. Salek, O. Vahtras, T. Helgaker, and H. Ågren, J. Chem. Phys. 117, 9630 (2002). [2] A quantum mechanical - electrodynamical approach to nonlinear properties: A. Baev, P. Welinder, R. Erlandsson, J. Henriksson, P. Norman and H. Ågren, J. of Nonlinear Optical Physics & Materials, 16, 157 (2007). [3] Electric field poled nonlinear optical systems, Y. Tu, Q. Zhang, and H. Ågren J. Phys. Chem. B 111, 3591 (2007). [4] Dynamics of multiple-photon optical processes in semiconductor quantum , Y. Fu, T.-T. Han, Y. Luo, and H. Ågren, J. Phys. Condens. Matter, 18, 9071 (2006). [5] Solvation of azide at the water surface: the Polarizable Continuum Model approach, L. Bondesson, L. Frediani, H. Ågren, and B. Mennucci, J. Phys. Chem., 110, 11361 (2006).) For further information, please contact Prof. Kevin Webb, School of Electrical and Computer Engineering: 494-3373; webb@purdue.edu <mailto:webb@purdue.edu> 3.7: Friday, April 11, 2008, 3:30PM, BRK 2001: ³Linear and Nonlinear Optical Devices Based on Slow Light Propagation: Figures of Merit,² by Jacob Khurgin, Deparment of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Johns Hopkins University. ABSTRACT: Performance of optical delay lines and nonlinear devices based on slow wave propagation in photonic crystal waveguides in the presence of higher order dispersion is analyzed and compared with other slow light schemes, such as coupled resonators, media with electromagnetically-induced transparence, surface plasmons, and optical amplifiers. It is shown that higher order dispersion of gain and index severely limits the bit rate of the system. Novel methods for increasing the bit rate are proposed and analyzed. These methods range from mundane dispersion-compensation schemes to the most elaborate methods using adiabatic changes and various parametric processes. The conclusion is that the slow light is definitely anything but a ³silver bullet² for most purported applications, there still might be a practical niche for it. BIO: Jacob B. Khurgin received MS in Optical Engineering from the Institute of Fine Mechanics and Optics, St. Petersburg, Russia in 1979. Upon promptly leaving that land in 1980, he joined the Philips Laboratories of NV Philips in Briarcliff Manor, NY where he worked with a variable degree of success on miniature solid-state lasers, II-VI semi-conductor lasers pumped with E-beam, various display components, and coffee makers that do not explode. Simultaneously, he was pursuing his graduate studies at Polytechnic Institute of NY, where he had received his PhD in Electro-physics in January 1987. In January 1988, Dr. Khurgin joined the ECE department of Johns Hopkins University where he is currently a Professor. His research interests include physics of semi-conductor nanostructures, quantum devices, semi-conductor lasers and amplifiers, nonlinear optics, optical communications, microwave photonics, ultra-fast opto- electronics, and others. He has authored in excess of 170 publications in technical journals and a few book chapters. Prof. Khurgin is an OSA Fellow. **************** 4. OPPORTUNITIES **************** 4.1: Funding Opportunity with UK Partners: Research Councils UK (RCUK) has opened the application period for its Science Bridges Awards. Detailed information can be found at: http://www.rcuk.ac.uk/international/sciencebridges.htm <http://www.rcuk.ac.uk/international/sciencebridges.htm> . This program provides funding to help research institutions or consortia in the US and UK to link together to accelerate the time from research to commercial development. US-UK ties must already exist, and will be strengthened through the program. Outline proposals are due May 15, 2008. 4.2: Energy Frontiers Research Centers: Limited Submission Announcement The US Department of Energy Basic Energy Sciences group has announced the Energy Frontiers Research Centers (EFRC) competition to which Purdue can submit three proposals as a lead organization. In addition, we can participate in an organized manner and at the individual faculty level in as many proposals from other institutions including US DOE Government Laboratories as appropriate. https://e-center.doe.gov/iips/faopor.nsf/UNID/933104E42D0185E58525742100694C 78/$file/EFRC_FOA_Final_Dated_April42008_FINAL.pdf <file://localhost/iips/faopor.nsf/UNID/933104E42D0185E58525742100694C78/$fil e/EFRC_FOA_Final_Dated_April42008_FINAL.pdf> . There are 13 reports at the following web site for those interested learning more about the program http://www.sc.doe.gov/bes/EFRC.html <http://www.sc.doe.gov/bes/EFRC.html> . We hope that all groups interested in this program can participate in one or more proposals led by Purdue or another organization, such as a US DOE funded laboratory. Campus wide groups in the general areas of Bio Fuels (Point of Contact: Sonny Ramaswamy sonny@purdue.edu), Thermal and Solar to Electric (Point of Contact: David Janes janes@ecn.purdue.edu), Advanced Nuclear Energy (Point of Contact: Ahmed Hassanein, hassanein@purdue.edu), and others are already in a self-assembly process. The Energy Center is helping to facilitate responses to this funding opportunity and can be contacted for additional information (contact Ron Steuterman steuterm@purdue.edu). The purpose of this message is to make you aware of this opportunity, and to alert you to the limited submissions process. As with any limited submissions competition, the university will use a standard process to help encourage groups to work together and to select those proposals that can go forward as one of the three Purdue-led submissions (http://www.purdue.edu/research/vpr/proposal/docs/LimitedSubmissionProcessAp ril2006ver3.doc <http://www.purdue.edu/research/vpr/proposal/docs/LimitedSubmissionProcessAp ril2006ver3.doc> ). For this solicitation we are not requesting initial letters of intent; however preproposals are due by Friday, April 25th. Preproposals should conform to the template given at http://dagon.admin.purdue.edu/cgi-bin/lsid.cgi <http://dagon.admin.purdue.edu/cgi-bin/lsid.cgi> for the DoE EFRC competition.and should make clear the objective of the proposal (the breakthrough expected in a brief but convincing manner) and should clearly address the key criteria in the DoE¹s Funding Opportunity Announcement. Preproposals should also include information on the leadership team (up to 6 names), US DOE laboratory contacts (laboratory name and point of contact information - we will not contact this person or laboratory using the information you provide), corporate leveraging anticipated, and any internal leveraging anticipated. We will try to involve as many groups as possible in submission of proposals under either Purdue or government laboratory leadership, or in proposals led by other universities. The information in the pre-proposals will help in the identification of strong partners and will also be used by the limited submissions review committee in the determination of the three proposals that will be submitted with Purdue as the lead organization. To submit a preproposal, to download the pre-proposal template, and for additional information please visit Purdue¹s limited submissions web site at http://dagon.admin.purdue.edu/cgi-bin/lsid.cgi <http://dagon.admin.purdue.edu/cgi-bin/lsid.cgi> . 4.3: The International Association of Nanotechnology is now accepting abstracts to be presented at the upcoming 5th International Congress of Nano-Bio & Clean Tech 2008. The conference will gather world class researchers, business executives and engineers from over 30 countries and cover the following topics: Nanomaterials, Nanoparticles, Nanodevices, Nanoelectronics, Nanofabrication, MEMS & NEMS, Nanobiotechnology, Nano scale characterization, Standards & Nomenclature, Nano Tools, Molecular Engineering, Nano Manufacturing, Nanoparticles Toxicology, Heath Safety Implications, Renewable Energy, Biofuels, Photovoltaic, Hydrogen, Electric Car, Sustainable Energy Public Policy, Direct Thermal Energy Conversion, Electrochemical Conversion and Storage, Nanostructured Solar Cell Manufacturing, Intellectual Property, Commercialization, Venture capital investment, and other related topics: Intellectual Property and Technology Transfer, Education & Workforce Training, Societal & Environmental Impacts, Capital Funding and Grants for Start-up Ventures. Featured Session: Emerging Tech Investment Forum. This session will provide a unique opportunity for start-up companies to present their products, services, and business models to an audience of venture capitalists and private investors. Location: San Francisco Airport Marriott; 1800 Old Bayshore Highway; Burlingame, California 94010 USA. Date: October 27-30, 2008. Deadline for Abstract submission: June 30, 2008. For more information, please visit http://www.ianano.org/CallforPapers.htm <http://www.ianano.org/CallforPapers.htm> <http://NANOTECHCONGRESSSMAIL.COM/080E020017011B16171C06320207001607175C1716 070E434B464A430E404A4445424B0E400E434A4143424B4B0E08.aspx> ***************** 5. DISCOVERY PARK ***************** 5.1: Center for Advance Manufacturing: TeamCenter Community Training, on behalf of Richard Couch, Director of Engagement, CAM: First and foremost, I would like to thank all of you for your support of the PACE program and of TeamCenter Community as a truly great collaborative tool. The broad base of users of this program here at Purdue has made us one of the largest and most diverse groups in academia. As this program has grown, we are constantly asked to provide TeamCenter Community training and have scheduled an upcoming session to address these needs. Mr. Buzz Ludlum from Siemens PLM Software will be here on campus to conduct a 4 hour class on April 22nd from 8:00 am - 12:00 noon. This session is open to both faculty and students. If you would like to attend, please RSVP (your students as well) to either myself or Ms. Leza Dellinger no later that April 15th. Once we have determined the number of participants, we will arrange for a computer lab and advise everyone of the location.