What's New @ IEEE in Circuits

March 2007 Volume 8, Number 3

IN THIS ISSUE:
1. Prizewinning-Researcher Leads Team to Breakthrough for Laser Diode Development
2. 5000 Attendees Expected At CLEO-QELS Conference
3. Improved Analog Circuit for Consumer Devices Modeled by MIT Researchers
4. IEEE-USA Re-Launched Employment Navigator Offers Free Access to Members
5. Microcurrent Allows Precise Flow of Water in Nanotubes
6. IEEE Spectrum Seeks Entries for Do-It-Yourself Electronics Projects Competition
7. Green Chemistry the Key to Safe, Sustainable Nanotechnology
8. IBM Triples Chip Memory
9. Researchers Gain Fresh Insights into High-Temperature Superconductors
10. Feedback Requested on Engineering Messaging
11. Circuits and System Conference Coming to Louisiana, USA
12. Physicists Develop Super-Thin Technology

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1. PRIZEWINNING-RESEARCHER LEADS TEAM TO BREAKTHROUGH FOR LASER DIODE DEVELOPMENT
Researchers from the Solid State Lighting and Display Center in the University of California&rsquos College of Engineering reported a significant breakthrough in laser diode development. Headed by Shuji Nakumara, winner of the 2006 Millennium Technology Prize, the team of researchers reached lasing operation in nonpolar gallium nitride semiconductors and modeled the world&rsquos first nonpolar violet laser diodes. According to the researchers, these diodes hold potential applications for commercial uses, including hi-density optical data storage for hi-definition images and video. These diodes are highly sought because they rely on less operating power and have longer lifelines.

2. 5000 ATTENDEES EXPECTED AT CLEO-QELS CONFERENCE
The Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics and Quantum Electronics and Laser Science Conference is expecting over 5000 attendees at the 2007 conference taking place from 6 to 11 May in Baltimore, Maryland, USA. The conference features 6 special symposia including CLEO symposium on ultrafast laser processing and applications and joint CLEO/PhAST symposium on biophotonics and applications. Also included are plenary sessions, short courses, and more. To register to attend, or more information, visit: www.cleoconference.org/

3. IMPROVED ANALOG CIRCUIT FOR CONSUMER DEVICES MODELED BY MIT RESEARCHERS
A team of researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) recently demonstrateda new type of analog circuit that can be created with a smaller size and greater power efficiency than traditional analog circuits, which may prove beneficial to many consumer devices, was recently demonstrated by a team of researchers from MIT. The comparator-based switched capacitor circuit may allow analog technology to catch up to the faster pace of improvement in digital circuits. Engineers may be able to use the new CBSC circuit as a more effective device for filtering and changing analog data, which can lead to technology that has a longer lifespan.

4. IEEE-USA RE-LAUNCHED EMPLOYMENT NAVIGATOR OFFERS FREE ACCESS TO MEMBERS
IEEE-USA has re-launched its online Employment Navigator, which now provides free access to all IEEE members. The site is an online career development portal that collects millions of job leads from more than 100,000 Web sites and places them in a single searchable database. In addition to searching job postings, members for the first time can access basic company information, contacts from the LinkedIn online networking portal, and salary benchmarking tools from the search results.The service will expand to include job listings outside the U.S. later this year. To access the site, visit: www.ieeeusa.org/careers/employmentnavigator/

For more information, contact Marnie James at m.c.james@ieee.org

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5. MICROCURRENT ALLOWS PRECISE FLOW OF WATER IN NANOTUBES
The movement of water through nanotube membranes can be controlled by applying a positive potential of only 1.7 volts, according to researchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, who say their technique is the first time that electrochemical means are used to control the way water interacts with the surface of the nanotube, paving the way for fast and efficient technologies to desalinize and purify water. Scientists say that by reversing the polarity of nanotubes, they could start and stop the flow of water through the tubes and that they could control the rate of water flow through nanotubes sitting directly next to each other, allowing one tube to pump quickly while the one next to it didn&rsquot pump water at all. These techniques could have major implications for time-released drug coatings, lab-on-a-chip devices, and water capture devices. Read more: www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2007-02/rpi-ctm021307.php

6. IEEE SPECTRUM SEEKS ENTRIES FOR DO-IT-YOURSELF ELECTRONICS PROJECTS COMPETITION
IEEE Spectrum and Make Magazines have teamed up to sponsor a contest which will recognize the most unique and clever do-it-yourself electronics projects. The winning entries will receive full coverage in the print and/or online editions of both Spectrum and Make (combined readership over one million), as well as airfare and accommodations to attend the next &ldquoMaker Faire,” Make magazine&rsquos annual jamboree for do-it-yourselfers, 19 to 20 May 2007 at the San Mateo, Calif., Fairgrounds, where the winner will describe and demonstrate his or her project. The entry deadline is 15 March 2007. For more information, visit: www.spectrum.ieee.org/feb07/4878

7. GREEN CHEMISTRY THE KEY TO SAFE, SUSTAINABLE NANOTECHNOLOGY
Scientists need to take a proactive approach in using so-called green chemistry while still in the discovery phase of nanomaterial creation, according to James E. Hutchison, Professor of Chemistry at the University of Oregon and a leading innovator in nanofabrication and assembly processes and a green chemistry pioneer. Hutchison called green chemistry &ldquothe safest possible future for advancing nanotechnology in a sustainable world,” at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, saying the industry has concerns that safety and health issues will hinder commercialization of nanotechnology. New materials are being synthesized for very specific physical properties, Hutchison said, during which there are often unintended properties that can be hazardous to the environment or human health. Read more: www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2007-02/uoo-gcc021507.php

QUOTE OF THE MONTH:
&ldquoIf it's green, it's biology. If it stinks, it's chemistry. If it has numbers, it's math. If it doesn't work, it's technology.” ~ Unknown

8. IBM TRIPLES CHIP MEMORY
New memory technology will help unclog data bottlenecks as increasingly powerful microprocessors retrieve information from a separate memory chip faster than it can be delivered, according to IBM, which says that changing most of the static random access memory (SRAM) used to store information on chips for dynamic random access memory (DRAM) can triple the amount of memory on chips and double performance. SRAM is fast and easy to manufacture but bulky, while DRAM has previously been too slow to be integrated directly onto the microprocessor. IBM says it has sped up DRAM to speeds approaching that of SRAM, and that the resulting &ldquoeDRAM,” helps boost the performance of chips and is particularly suited for enabling the movement of graphics in gaming and other multimedia applications. Read more: www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17148099/

9. RESEARCHERS GAIN FRESH INSIGHTS INTO HIGH-TEMPERATURE SUPERCONDUCTORS
Researchers found that two different physical parameters – pressure and the substitution of different isotopes of oxygen - have a similar effect on electronic properties of high-temperature superconductors, of which little is known. The researchers, including scientists at the Carnegie Institution&rsquos Geophysical Laboratory and a physicist at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, say their work has given them new insights into high-temperature superconductors. In their study, they discovered that by substituting oxygen-16 with its heavier form, oxygen-18, there is a change in the transition temperature, known as the isotope effect, showing pressure and the isotope effect have equal roles on the transition temperature in cuprate superconductors.

10. FEEDBACK REQUESTED ON ENGINEERING MESSAGING
The U.S. National Academy of Engineering (NAE) is seeking input on the results of market research intended to identify messages for communicating more effectively with the public about engineering. As an NAE member, IEEE President Leah Jamieson serves on the advisory committee to the project, which will consider submitted comments when the final report is prepared later this year. Responses from this site will go to both NAE and IEEE. To review the market research report and provide feedback by the 19 March deadline, visit: www.ieee.org/web/aboutus/engineeringmessages.html

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11. CIRCUITS AND SYSTEM CONFERENCE COMING TO LOUISIANA, USA
The IEEE International Symposium on Circuits and Systems (ISCAS) is taking place this year in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA from 27 to 30 May. The conference features keynote talks, special sessions, and 14 workshops including "Design Challenges and Solutions for Nanoscale Memories" and "Nano-Scale Implantable Micro-Stimulator SoC Design". To register to attend, or for more information, visit: www.iscas2007.org/

12. PHYSICISTS DEVELOP SUPER-THIN TECHNOLOGY
A new type of membrane that is only one atom thick has been developed by physicists at the University of Manchester, England, and The Max-Planck Institute in Germany. The researchers used the world&rsquos thinnest material to produce a type of technology that may be used to create super-fast electronic components and speed up the development of drugs. To develop the super-thin technology, the international research team employed a combination of microfabrication techniques. To read more, visit: www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2007-02/uom-mpp022607.php

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WHAT'S NEW @ IEEE IN CIRCUITS
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Managing Editor: Michelle Garner, m.garner@ieee.org

Contributing Editor: Diana Fuksin

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