Advanced Technology

R&D in advanced technology focuses on inventing new materials, devices, and components to enable revolutionary system capabilities. We pursue innovation in a wide set of areas, including imagers, lasers, quantum computing, microsystems, RF technology, and chemical sensors.

Advanced Imager Technology
Advanced Materials and Microsystems
Laser Technology and Applications
Microsystems Prototyping Foundry
Quantum Information and Integrated Nanosystems
RF Technology

Our group has pioneered imaging technologies that have enabled some of the world's most powerful telescopes and cameras for the defense and scientific communities. These technologies include charge-coupled-device (CCD) imagers for astronomical instruments, single-photon-sensitive imagers for foliage-penetrating ladar systems, and digital-pixel focal plane arrays for wide-area infrared cameras.

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When NASA made history in 2013 with the longest laser communication link ever demonstrated (from a Moon-orbiting satellite to Earth), our group was behind the satellite's laser transmitter and the ground terminals' highly sensitive photon detectors that enabled the link. We have a long history of developing advanced solid-state, fiber, and diode laser technologies for the scientific and defense communities.

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A researcher holds a wafer, while standing in front of a material deposition machine.

In the Media

MIT engineers “grow” atomically thin transistors on top of computer chips

Apr 28

MIT News

A satellite with a happy birthday hat flies through space.

In the Media

TESS celebrates its fifth “launchiversary”

Apr 20

MIT TESS News

$Ice fractures at the Great Lakes Research Center.$

In the Media

Home ice advantage: GLRC hosts MIT engineers on Huron Bay for ice fracturing research

Apr 11

Michigan Tech

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a researcher looks through a small window on a large metal multichambered molecular beam epitaxy tool.

advanced materials

Materials by Design

A new approach to materials discovery aims to expedite the process of deploying new materials for specific mission needs.

a small electronic chip is illuminated with red laser light.

quantum

Compact Optical Trapped-Ion Array Clock

Optical atomic clocks are the most accurate in the world, but they are very large, sensitive instruments. We are transforming the complex components of these clocks into a compact, portable platform.

a wire in wound up in a spool. The wire appears to be cooper and has red LEDs lit up throughout it.

microelectronics

Fiber Sensor Array Buoy

A small, low-cost system that leverages long-length fibers embedded with electronics could provide persistent monitoring of the undersea environment.

an illustration of Earth from space with two lidar-housing satellites orbiting near eachother.

Climate Observation

Atmospheric Aerosol Characterization   

We are designing a satellite-based lidar system to categorize aerosols in the atmosphere.

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The people here at the Laboratory really push for their peers to be successful, which is something I greatly appreciate.

Michael Vixamar

FPGA/Firmware Engineer

Advanced Technology

Advanced Imager Technology

I was drawn in by the scope of the technology research being conducted and the opportunities that would be available for me to grow professionally and personally.

Sara Canzano

Advanced Packaging Engineer

Advanced Technology

Advanced Imager Technology

Sara smiles for a photo wearing a green floral shirt. She is outside, with grass in the background.

Within my first few months at the Laboratory, I pitched a new idea for growing quantum diamonds with one of my colleagues, and it was funded internally through the Technology Office.