== Introduction ==
BYU Clean room is a class 10 cleanroom, which is owned by ECEn Department of Brigham Young University.
Projects includes:
1. ARROWs: ARROW stands for Anti-Resonant Reflective Optical Waveguide. These structures are unique because they allow for the guiding of light in waveguides with air or liquid cores. The purpose of this project is the fabrication and study of ARROW structures and the construction of photonic devices built using ARROWs or the ARROW process.
2. Dielectrics: Displays The goal of this project is the study of the optical properties of thin films for use in semiconductor metrology and active and passive displays. The unique color reflected from a thin film depends on its thickness – thus we can determine thickness from its color or produce different colors by varying film thickness.
3. Chemical Sensors: The purpose of this project is to produce miniaturized devices that are the heart of hand-held chemical sensors. These devices will consist of both ion traps mass spectrometers, and gas chromatographs. This project is being done in correlation with the Chemistry department.
4. Diffraction Gratings: The purpose of this project is to achieve in and out coupling of a laser on both semiconductor substrates, and optical fibers. We use holography to fabricate the diffraction gratings. The application of a diffraction grating extends to optical interconnects, integrated optical devices, and fiber optical communications.
5. In-Fiber Devices: This project uses a D-shaped optical fiber as a platform to produce optical devices within the optical fibers domain.
6. MEMS: Microelectromechanical Systems (MEMS) are small systems of mechanical and electrical devices generally fabricated using techniques developed for the production of computer chips.
7. MMIDI: The Multidisciplinary MIcrosystem Design and Integration (MMIDI) Group is a group of faculty members and students from three different engineering disciplines who are working together to develop microsystems for the next generation. Current efforts are focused on the development of a self-sustained micropower supply suitable for autonomous microsystems such as microsensors. Students at all levels are involved in various aspects of the project.

BYU IMMERSE Program

The IMMERSE program was initiated in 2003 by Professors Aaron Hawkins and Stephen Schultz of BYU’s Electrical and Computer Engineering Department. Undergraduate research was being emphasized at the university’s administration level and BYU’s Office of Research and Creative Activities (ORCA) was offering grant money to support faculty-directed student activities. Hawkins and Schultz’s proposal for an undergraduate research effort focused on microelectronics and microfabrication was accepted by ORCA, and the first handful of students were hired in the summer of 2003.

Originally called the Microfabrication Mentoring Environment (MME), the program began with the goal of having every undergraduate student publish some type of scientific paper. Students were given a number of high risk research projects that eventually led to larger, externally funded programs. Additionally, students were asked to help establish standard processes in our revamped cleanroom facility and document them via the internet. Documentation efforts became a staple of the program with each student learning HTML and contributing to the now very popular IML Website.

From 2003 to 2007, 51 students have been employed by this program and its success has been far-reaching. The vast majority of participating students have published a scientific paper while part of the program and gone on to graduate school. Funding for student salaries has come from a combination of ORCA mentoring funds, the National Science Foundation’s Research Experiences for Undergraduates program, external research project sponsors like the National Institutes of Health and the Department of Defense, and corporate donors.

In 2007, the program’s name was officially changed to IMMERSE to more accurately reflect its goals and structure and the Micron Foundation became a major sponsor. With added funding, IMMERSE was expanded to include fifteen to twenty undergraduate students per year. Additional faculty from BYU’s college of engineering were also made eligible to participate in the program as mentors.

See also

1.

External link

BYU Cleanroom Homepage