Contribution: Innovation for Defence Excellence and Security

The Micro-net is composed of one (1) Principal Investigator from Polytechnique Montreal, eight (8) Co-Investigators (four (4) from Polytechnique Montreal, one (1) from McGill university, one (1) from Université de Sherbrooke, one (1) from McMaster University and one (1) from University of Alberta), and eight (8) Collaborators from the United States academic and Canadian private sectors. Other funding: NASA @ $390,00; University of Wisconsin-Boston University @ $195,000; 5N Plus @ $105,000; Two-Photon Research @ $180,000; Plasmionique @ $ 150,000; Femtum @ $65,000; and Teledyne Dalso @$ 120,000 for a Grand Total of $2,945,000.

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This project will directly address the need to develop broadband photonic systems and will provide invaluable scientific and technical information and data to the defence industry in terms of THz-to MIR radiation applications for ultrahigh bandwidth communication, remote sensing, harmful chemical weapons detection and more. The CMOS-compatible technology can improve compactness, deployability, performance and sensing capabilities while reducing cost. By enabling the large-scale use of THz-to-MIR range in existing fields of application, including security screening, concealed weapon detection, explosive detection, surveillance, anti-counterfeiting, and chemical and biological threat detection, these advancements directly target some of the most relevant challenges facing Canada's defence and security. The proposed nanostructured materials developed in this project are also valuable in fields of detection avoidance and physical protection, and creates valuable opportunities to enhance defence capabilities and public security. Photonic structures are used to manipulate radiative thermal transport, thereby laying out the groundwork to achieve new camouflage thermal coatings with adaptable thermal emissivity and develop new thermal management strategies deployable, for instance, in garments for improving both physical endurance and maneuverability. The scientific output of this research will be disseminated through high-impact journals, international conferences and public presentations. The potential design and fabrication of new kinds of devices have the capacity to generate considerable intellectual property extending beyond national defence and security applications, thereby creating the opportunity for initiating new commercial ventures. The multidisciplinary research environment and interactions with the supporting organization will provide a rich training ground for highly qualified personnel who will be highly sought-after by the Canadian high-tech industry, including, for example, microfabrication, photonics, electronics, chemical and optical sensing, and THz and MIR applications.

The project aims to address barriers limiting the development of highly relevant optoelectronic-based group-IV technologies and TXz-to-MIR technologies. The proposed THz-to-MIR compact photonic platforms will capitalize on recent advances in controlling the structural and optoelectronic properties of (Si)GeSN direct bandgap materials. The Micro-net will collectively advance research and establish new materials physics to develop an atomistic-level understanding of growth phenomena shaping the basic properties of (Si)GeSN-based nanoscale and quantum structures, develop devise structures to harness the optoelectronic and photonic properties of (Si)GeSn-based materials and optimize the performance of light emitters, detectors and sensing devices.

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(i) To advance research in the area of emerging group IV semiconductors to address current technological bottlenecks facing the development of light sources, detectors, sensors, and imaging devices operating in the part of the electromagnetic spectrum covering from Terahertz to Mid Infrared; and (ii) to develop a tunable compact photonic platform on emerging group IV semiconductors to address current challenges facing the development of light sources, detectors and sensors operating in this part of the electromagnetic spectrum.

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To encourage the creation of new as well as support and sustain existing science and technology networks external to DND that can generate new ideas and formulate solutions to Canada's current and future defence and security requirements

Afin de favoriser la création de nouveaux réseaux ainsi que le soutient et le maintien des réseaux scientifiques et technologiques existants à l'extérieur du ministère de la Défense nationale qui peuvent générer de nouvelles idées et élaborer des solutions aux besoins actuels et futurs du Canada en matière de la défense et de la sécurité