Wright-Virginia Microelectronics Center at Virginia Commonwealth University(Richmond, VA) has a whole micro/nanofabrication “suite” that includes photo- and e-beam lithography with a resolution as fine as 600 and 10 nm, respectively, metal and dielectric deposition reactive-ion etching, etc. The available equipment makes it possible to create and test various micro/optoelectronic, photonic, and biomedical devices.

The VCU VMEC Internship offers the unique opportunity to work independently in this high-tech facility andreally “do it yourself”. You will have the opportunity to work hands-on, from initial concept to final testing and obtain a complete micro/nanofabrication experience, including:

  • CAD layout and design of a microelectronic, photonic, or biomedical device;
  • Photomask fabrication using our own custom mask making facilities or using Maskless photolithography;
  • Device fabrication in the W-VMC clean room;
  • Device testing in our characterization

Our current interests encompass but not limited innovative nanophotonic devices, infrared imaging, single-photon sources for quantum communication.

The 2024 VMEC Summer projects is expected to be a part of the research program: Secure Quantum Communication Optical Interface (SQCOI) with Controllable Aperture Plasmonic Nanolasers. 

This project aims to develop an essential requirement for on-chip QKD systems: monolithically integrated single-photon sources based on quantum dot emitters resonantly excited by nanoscale plasmonic lasers (Figure). Thegeneration of non-classical light has so far been generally accomplished via bulk approaches, e.g. the generation of weak coherent states. On-chip sources are highly desirable to enable miniaturized quantum cryptography for secure intra-chip communications, and will be the building blocks of on-chip photonic quantum technologies. The major thrust will be on the development of compact on-chip single photon sources based on QD emitters optically excited by nanolasers.

Contacts: Prof. Vitaliy Avrutin, Dept. of Electrical & Computer Engineering, vavrutin@vcu.edu; Prof. Nibir Dhar, Dept. of Electrical & Computer Engineering, dharnk@vcu.edu