About us
The Microphysics Laboratory at the University of Illinois at Chicago has earned international recognition in the growth and study of II-VI semi-conductors, primarily for night vision applications.
MPL specializes primarily in the growth, characterization and modeling of heterostructures made with semiconducting materials such as Hg-based semiconducting alloys and/or superlattices deposited on GaAs or Si substrates, ZnSe and related wide gap II-VI materials and III-V semiconducting materials.
Prominent areas of research are:
Growth of epilayers and heterostructures using Molecular Beam Epitaxy (MBE).
Heteroepitaxy of dissimilar materials.
Structural and electrical properties.
in-situ surface physics experiments.
Electronic properties of two dimensional systems.
Electronic devices such as photodiodes, MIS structures and infrared lasers.
Device modeling.
Optical characterization using modulation spectroscopic techniques.
Theoretical investigation of the electronic structure of the semiconductor heterostructures.
MPL's reputation includes its strong research funding history, collaborations with top-level universities and industrial laboratories, and especially the frequency at which MPL-trained graduate students are hired away to high paying industrial positions even before finishing their PhDs. The MPL alone has generated fifteen million in external funding since its founding in 1982. Its funding sources include DARPA, Army Research Laboratories, ONR, DOE, Hughes, U.S. Air Force, Rockwell International, Lockheed-Martin, Raytheon/TI Systems, and Northrup-Grumman. In addition, several small business grants have been awarded to EPIR Ltd., a spin-off of the MPL.
The activities of the laboratory are devoted primarily to the growth, characterization and modeling of heterostructures made with semiconducting materials such as Hg-based semiconducting alloys and/or superlattices deposited on GaAs or Si substrates with CdTe and CdZnTe buffer layers, ZnSe and related wide gap II-VI materials, and III-V semiconducting materials.
The MPL developed the techniques and provided the first demonstrating the growth of MCT by molecular beam epitaxy. These innovations have resulted in the production of extremely high quality and precise MCT crystals, which are necessary for the fabrication of MCT-based infrared detectors.
Important examples of MCT-based technology were demonstrated during the Gulf War, where USA established superiority with the use of self guided missiles. In these missiles, the key function of imaging the enemy target, irrespective of the weather, day or night, is done by MCT focal plane arrays. Medical applications include noninvasive tumor sensing, and the development of novel x-ray detector arrays based in cadmium zinc telluride which promise to provide high resolution diagnostic x–ray images. Pollution monitoring applications include the cost-effective remote detection of common pollutants such as CO, NO, and SO2. The all-weather and night vision characteristics of MCT-based infrared detectors make them ideally suited for remote imaging from satellites, for example in weather prediction, or terrestrial vehicles, such as providing aircraft pilots with ground images during poor weather or night time take-off and landing.
In addition to its illustrious research accomplishments, the MPL has established an innovative teaching program. This includes undergraduate research activity throughout the year, with eight undergraduates currently participating. It has given high school students their first exposure to fundamental research and high technology. It has also played an active role in the University of Illinois Math and Science Outreach program. Undergraduate students trained at MPL have been recognized by national research laboratories for their valuable contributions, understanding and enthusiasm in research.