March 2, 2001
Partha Dutta’s Research Will Advance the Field of
Optoelectronics
Troy, N.Y. — Partha Dutta, assistant professor of electrical,
computer, and systems engineering, was awarded a Faculty Early
Career Development (CAREER) Award from the National Science
Foundation. He is among the first Rensselaer faculty to be
awarded the honor in 2001. The award is one of the NSF's most
competitive and prestigious, and is given to young faculty
members actively engaged in research and education.
Eight Rensselaer faculty were honored with CAREER awards last
year — a record for the Institute. Rensselaer and Cornell
University tied for having the most CAREER award winners in New
York state with eight apiece, according to the NSF. Bolstered
by those numbers, New York jumped to second in the nation in
the total number of CAREER awards for the state.
Dutta, a resident of Troy, received a five-year, $375,000
grant in part to set up new equipment to make semiconductor
materials that can be used for optoelectronics, high-speed
electronics, and microelectromechanical systems (MEMS). He
expects the substrate engineering reactor to be assembled by
the end of 2001, with testing to begin as soon as it is
running.
Dutta, who joined the Rensselaer faculty in July 2000,
developed and tested a new fundamental technique for making
semiconductor substrates and filed a patent last year. Combined
with the right equipment, this new technique will dramatically
reduce the time needed to create the three-, four-, or
five-component alloys necessary for more advanced semiconductor
technology. Currently two-component alloys are the most common
and commercially available substrate materials.
Computer modeling will allow Dutta to identify unique
materials growth and processing parameters that will yield
predicted results, all in the course of an afternoon. Current
procedures for developing new materials can take several months
or even years. Dutta will be able to create new devices for
numerous applications, including infrared imaging, low-power
high-speed electronics, power electronics, tandem photovoltaics
and thermophotovoltaics, and quantum computing.
In addition, undergraduates from various engineering
departments will have the opportunity to participate in Dutta's
research projects that previously required specialized
skills.
Contact: Patricia Azriel
Phone: (518) 276-6531
E-mail: N/A