U.S. Department of Energy provides special grant to Stevens Institute of Technology
University, in collaboration with Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, receives three-year grant to develop new laser "sniffing" techniques
HOBOKEN, N.J. – The U. S. Department of Energy through its Nevada Operations Office announced yesterday that it will support research on new sensor technologies being developed at Stevens Institute of Technology for the detection of various types of gases. Funds in the amount of $150,000 have been dedicated toward the first year of this three-year project Stevens has planned, in conjunction with the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. The research will support the efforts of the Cooperative Monitoring Program of the Department of Energy.
"We proposed a collaborative research program to develop chemically selective, highly sensitive, portable gas sensors based on tunable semiconductor laser absorption spectroscopy," says Dr. Ed Whittaker, Stevens Professor of physics and engineering physics, and principal investigator of the project. "Both labs will conduct experimental investigations using the recently invented quantum cascade laser."
Bell Laboratories (Lucent Technologies) manufactures this special laser, which is not readily available on the market. Among its prominent features, the quantum cascade laser may be used at near room temperature, making it more convenient than standard lasers, generally requiring sub-zero temperature conditions.
The Department of Energy’s Cooperative Monitoring Program concerns itself, among other things, with the prevention of the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.
"Using this laser, we will work to develop a sensor to ‘sniff’ chemicals in minute parts-per-billion concentrations in the air," adds Whittaker. "Turning this technology into relatively inexpensive and compact units, the CMP, during its inspections, will be able to detect various gases based on their interaction with the laser light."
Stevens Institute of Technology will use the grant money to support faculty research efforts, post-doctoral research assistants, graduate students, equipment and supplies.
Established in 1870, Stevens offers baccalaureate, master and doctoral degrees in engineering, science, computer science and management, as well as a baccalaureate in the humanities and liberal arts. The university has a total enrollment of more than 1,500 undergraduates and 2,200 graduate students.
About Stevens Institute of Technology
Founded in 1870, Stevens Institute of Technology is one of the leading technological universities in the world dedicated to learning and research. Through its broad-based curricula, nurturing of creative inventiveness, and cross disciplinary research, the Institute is at the forefront of global challenges in engineering, science, and technology management. Partnerships and collaboration between, and among, business, industry, government and other universities contribute to the enriched environment of the Institute. A new model for technology commercialization in academe, known as Technogenesis®, involves external partners in launching business enterprises to create broad opportunities and shared value.
Stevens offers baccalaureates, master’s and doctoral degrees in engineering, science, computer science and management, in addition to a baccalaureate degree in the humanities and liberal arts, and in business and technology. The university has a total enrollment of 2,150 undergraduate and 3,500 graduate students, with about 250 full-time faculty. Stevens’ graduate programs have attracted international participation from China, India, Southeast Asia, Europe and Latin America. Additional information may be obtained from its web page at www.stevens.edu.
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