Events Calendar

Integrated Systems Seminar Series

Speaker: Dr. Shouleh Nikzad, Jet Propulsion Laboratory

Talk Title: High Performance Imagers, Detectors, and Devices for Applications in Cosmology, Planetary Studies, & More….

Abstract: New discoveries about our universe historically have accompanied advances in observational technology. Galileo’s telescope and the discoveries enabled by that technology are a prime example of such accompaniment and dependence. Pushing the boundaries in space exploration requires new technologies to enable fundamental discoveries in cosmology, astrophysics, and life detection. An essential component of these missions will be detectors with exceptional stability, sensitivity, and resolution.
Semiconductor detectors offer a rich spectral range, tailorable spectral response, high resolution, and sensitivity; however, these capabilities are not often available in a single material or class of materials. For example, while silicon imagers have reached amazing performance levels in terms of format, pixel size, and signal to noise, they are typically blind to ultraviolet light.
Using non-equilibrium processes such as molecular beam epitaxy (MBE), we can manipulate materials at nanometer scale, form unusual and quantum structures, and alter bandstructure. In this talk, I will discuss our work on use of MBE and atomic layer deposition (ALD) to develop high quantum efficiency ultraviolet, visible, and near IR silicon detector arrays, form high stability III-nitride photocathodes, and fabricate quantum dots for the end purpose of understanding stars, galaxies, planets, and our universe. We strive for understanding, both in the realm of semiconductors and in aiding cosmology, astrophysics, and planetary sciences. I will also briefly discuss applications to medical and other fields.


Biography: Shouleh Nikzad is A Senior Research Scientist, a Principal Member of Staff and a Technical Group Supervisor for the Advanced UV/Visible/Near IR Detector Arrays, Advanced Imaging Systems, and Nansociences Group at JPL. She received her BS in Electrical Engineering from USC and her MS in EE and PhD in Applied Physics from Caltech. Her current research interests include high performance UV/Visible/NIR imaging arrays using silicon and III-nitride materials, low-energy particle detector arrays, high stability photocathodes, quantum dot-based devices, novel detector concepts, and advanced UV/Optical instrument technologies. In her tenure at JPL, she has initiated, developed, and managed successful detector and device programs. Along with her research group at JPL, Dr. Nikzad has pioneered non-equilibrium crystal growth techniques to manipulate and modify the bandstructure of devices to produce high sensitivity, high resolution, low noise, UV/Optical/NIR imagers. She holds more than 10 US patents and has over 50 publications. She has presented her work as invited talks and in book chapters and has received awards for her work including the Lew Allen Award for Excellence, the Space Act Award, and the TAP Honor Award.

Dr. Nikzad has held joint visiting faculty appointments at Caltech Applied Physics Department and at the USC Keck School of Medicine. She is currently a Visiting Scientist with the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and Visiting Faculty Associate at Caltech’s Division of Physics, Math, and Astronomy. She serves on various boards including Board Of Director of the SBMT (Society for Brain Mapping and Therapeutics) Society/ Foundation and the editorial board of the special issue of the NeuroImage. She co lead a 2012 study funded by the Keck Institute for Space Studies for innovations to enable the next generation ultraviolet instruments. This year, Dr. Nikzad was honored by her election as a fellow of the American Physical Society (APS).


Host: Prof. Hossein Hashemi, Prof. Mahta Moghaddam, Prof. Mike Chen

More Info: http://mhi.usc.edu/activities/integrated-systems/

Location: EEB 248

Audiences: Everyone Is Invited

Contact: Hossein Hashemi

Event Link: http://mhi.usc.edu/activities/integrated-systems/