The grant from the U.S. Department of Defense, Army Research Development and Engineering Command Acquisition Division is going toward professor Somnath Chattopadhyay's project, "The Innovative Research and Development of Avalanche Photodiode/OPFET Photodetectors for Optical Modulator/Interconnects."

The project is expected to develop a new class of photodetectors called OPFET and existing photodetectors APD for military applications such as anti-jamming communications systems, missile defense, optical networking and earth observing stations.

Chattopadhyay's research on utilizing optical signals modulation/demodulation will enable the military to establish a higher speed and more secure communication system to prevent enemy tracking. Such a high speed optical communication system will improve and secure electromagnetic communication during air and land operations.

The grant, the only grant one awarded in California during the 2004 fiscal year to pursue research for national security and defense, will fund the equipment and materials necessary to successfully develop the optoelectronic devices.

"The program will move forward the College of Engineering and Computer Science's ability to intensively interact with industries," said Nagi El Naga, chair of CSUN's electrical and computer engineering department. Disciplinary and interdisciplinary areas of the college will benefit from the availability of equipment to produce innovative and advanced research on electronic and optoelectronic devices, El Naga said.

"The students from our community and society benefit (from the grant) by gaining hands-on experience with advanced technology in semiconductor device fabrication," Chattopadhyay added.

"This research activity will help the students grow conceptual understanding of semiconductor and solid state device technology," El Naga said. "This improved learning environment has tremendous potential to benefit job applicants by providing them with more of a research scope for the master's and Ph.D. levels in building their academic careers."

Chattopadhyay is currently working with the U.S. Department of Defense research on conducting clean room modification for a dirt and dust free work facility for device front-end processing, fabrication and equipment characterization sourcing.

Cal State Northridge's College of Engineering and Computer Science is home to several nationally recognized programs where students gain valuable hands-on experience working alongside faculty members and industry professionals on cutting-edge research.