News
New Book Chapter: “Self-assembly of block copolymers by graphoepitaxy”
We have written a book chapter about the self-assembly of block copolymers by graphoepitaxy. In the fabrication of a desired block copolymer (BCP) nanostructure for a particular application, a key challenge is the control of the BCP microdomain assembly. Graphoepitaxy is a solution for this challenge. Graphoepitaxy provides multifaceted mechanisms to order and directing microdomains and to fabricate complicated single-layer or multilayer structures over large areas. Topographical templates can be fabricated using different top-down lithography or self-forming methods. These templates direct the self-assembly through key mechanisms such as commensurability, lateral ordering, and confinement effect. Hence, many different morphologies, either equilibrium or nonequilibrium, can be controlled to produce desired nanopatterns. To date, BCP graphoepitaxy has been employed in many applications, from nanoelectronics to medical filters and memory storage to biological substrates.
The book chapter by S. M. Nicaise, A. Tavakkoli K. G. and K. K. Berggren, “Self-assembly of block copolymers by graphoepitaxy”, In: Directed self assembly of block co-polymers for nano-manufacturing, R. Gronheid and P. Nealey, Woodhead Publishing, 197-230 (2015).
Microsystems Technology Laboratory (MTL) annual report is published
A showcase of MTL’s diverse and creative research, this report contains 147 abstracts submitted by 40 research groups. The QNN group’s contributions can be found here:
Driving Stage for SFQ Circuits using a Single Nanocryotron
Modeling Superconducting Nanowire Circuits
Measuring the Timing Jitter of WSi SNSPDs with Integrated nTron Readout
Templated Self-Assembly of Block Copolymer Thin Films Under Lithographic Confinement
Lithographic Control of Surface and Volume Plasmons in Aluminum
Interaction-Free Measurement by Three-Crystal Electron Interferometer
Membrane Nano-Gratings for Electron Diffraction
New paper: “Infrared transmissometer to measure the thickness of NbN films” published in Applied Optics
We built a transmissometer to determine the thickness of thin films of NbN that are deposited as the starting material for SNSPDs. The transmissometer measures the transmittance of light through NbN thin films, and the thickness of the NbN is found by fitting the measurements to analytical values calculated with the transfer matrix method. This simple, low-cost and non-destructive tool can give the thickness of several nanometer thick films with a precision of 0.2 nm.
The paper by Kristen Sunter, Andrew Dane, Christopher Lang and Karl K. Berggren has been published in Applied Optics and is currently available on arXiv and online from Applied Optics.
Kristen A. Sunter, Andrew E. Dane, Christopher I. Lang, and Karl K. Berggren. “Infrared transmissometer to measure the thickness of NbN thin films,” Applied Optics 54(18), 5743-5749 (2015).
Alyssa Cartwright Receives Morais (’86) and Rosenblum (’86) UROP Award
Congrats to QNN Group Member Alyssa Cartwright for receiving the Morais (’86) and Rosenblum (’86) UROP Award. This award is given at the annual EECS Celebration in recognition of best undergraduate research project in EECS.
Prof. Berggren authors case-study in MIT Innovation Deficit Report
Karl Berggren recently served as a member of MIT’s recent committee tasked with studying the nation’s “Innovation Deficit.” The outcome of the committee was a report in which a number of cases were studied, each of which illustrated opportunities in research which could be threatened by future budget cuts in R&D. Prof. Berggren’s focus was on the quantum information technology. He appreciates the input and feedback of a number of his MIT colleagues and students in helping him draft the report.