“Welcoming Dr. Quang Minh Thai to Our Research Group”
University of Arkansas – Sept 09th 2024
We are pleased to announce that Dr. Quang Minh Thai has joined our research group. Dr. Thai completed his PhD in Physics at Grenoble-Alpes University/CEA-Grenoble. His research expertise includes the measurement of optical gain in GaN/AlGaN multi-quantum wells, characterization of optically pumped GeSn lasers, and modeling of GeSn band structure and optical gain. He also brings valuable experience in the epitaxial growth of SiGe on nanopatterned surfaces. We are excited to welcome Dr. Thai to our team and look forward to the innovative contributions he will bring to our research projects.
Dr. Fisher Yu Promoted to Distinguished Professor at The University of Arkansas!
University of Arkansas – Aug 05th 2024
The University of Arkansas proudly announces the promotion of Dr. Fisher Yu to the esteemed position of Distinguished Professor. The Distinguished Professor title is the highest honor awarded by the University of Arkansas, reserved for faculty members who have demonstrated extraordinary achievements and sustained excellence in their field. Dr. Yu’s promotion reflects his exceptional contributions and the profound impact he has had on both his discipline and the university. His innovative research and commitment to excellence have greatly enhanced our university’s reputation and have made a substantial impact on the global scientific community. In addition to his groundbreaking research, Dr. Yu is renowned for his mentorship and dedication to educating the next generation of engineers and scientists. His commitment to fostering a collaborative and dynamic research environment has made a lasting impact on both his students and colleagues.
Dr. Dan Buca Visits Research Group at University of Arkansas
University of Arkansas – July 25th 2024
Dr. Dan Buca from the Peter Grünberg Institute, Forschungszentrum Jülich, recently visited our research group at the University of Arkansas. During his visit, Dr. Buca engaged with students from our Laser Team, Detector Team, and Growth Team, focusing on the development of GeSn and SiGeSn epitaxy for photonics. His visit provided a valuable opportunity for our students to gain insights from his extensive experience in the field. Dr. Buca also had several lab tours, for demonstrations and sharing his expertise on cutting-edge research in photonics. The visit was a significant event, fostering collaboration and enhancing the knowledge base within our research community.
“Prof. Guo-En Chang Joins Research Group for Summer Visit”
University of Arkansas
Professor Guo-En Chang is joining our research group this summer for an exciting visit. During his stay, he will engage directly with our students, offering invaluable insights and sharing his extensive knowledge and experience in the field. This unique opportunity will not only enrich our ongoing projects but also provide a platform for students to learn from one of the leading experts in the discipline. We look forward to the dynamic discussions and innovative ideas that will emerge from this collaboration.
“Congratulations Emmanuel: Celebrating His Ph.D. Success!”
University of Arkansas -July 10th 2024
We are thrilled to congratulate our fellow group member, Emmanuel, on the successful defense of his Ph.D. dissertation! This remarkable achievement not only reflects his hard work and dedication but also inspires us all. We are so proud to celebrate this milestone with you, Emmanuel, as you embark on the next exciting chapter of your academic journey. Congratulations on your well-deserved graduation!
Research Group Welcomes New Members: Sarah and Kushal
University of Arkansas
Our research group is pleased to announce the addition of two talented new students, Sarah and Kushal. Sarah, who has completed her undergraduate degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Arkansas, is now advancing her studies through a Master’s program with us and will be co-advised by Dr. Fisher Yu and Dr. Wei Du. Kushal joins us as a PhD candidate in Materials Science after completing his Master’s in Physics at Western Illinois University. His background includes extensive experience in studying electronic and optical properties through optical absorption and fluorescence experiments. We are excited to see the contributions and insights they will bring to our research initiatives.
Congratulations to Grey on Successfully Defending Ph.D. Dissertation on GeSn Quantum Well Lasers
University of Arkansas – April 11th 2024
We extend our heartfelt congratulations to Grey for his successful defense of his Ph.D. dissertation on the investigation of optically pumped GeSn quantum well lasers. Grey’s defense was a testament to his unwavering commitment to advancing the frontier of semiconductor, it exemplifies the highest standards of academic rigor and innovation. The defense, a culmination of years of dedicated research and scholarly pursuit, was attended by distinguished professors from his committee, including his advisors Dr. Fisher Yu, Dr. Greg Salamo and other professors, Dr. Hameed Naseem, Dr. Wei Du and Dr. Leftwich, as well as fellow students from our esteemed research group, highlighting the collaborative and supportive environment fostered within our institution. Their presence underscored the spirit of camaraderie and mutual encouragement that defines our academic community. As Grey embarks on the next phase of his academic journey, his achievements serve as an inspiration to aspiring researchers and underscore the importance of perseverance and dedication in the pursuit of knowledge. Grey, as you embark on this new chapter, we wish you the very best in all your future endeavors.
Yunsheng Qiu Joins Our Research Group to Spearhead Exploration in Group IV Material Synthesis and Characterization”
Our research group is delighted to welcome Dr. Yunsheng, who recently completed his Ph.D. in Physics with a focus on Condensed Matter Physics at the Missouri University of Science and Technology. Dr. Yunsheng brings a wealth of expertise in Topological Superconductors and Topological Insulators, with a strong background in synthesis and characterization methodologies. Having successfully contributed to advancements in these specialized areas, he is now set to embark on a new research trajectory within our group, focusing on the synthesis and characterization of Group IV materials. His arrival marks a valuable addition to our team, and we look forward to leveraging his skills and knowledge in pushing the boundaries of materials science research.
Our Group Welcomes Dr. Diandian Zhang as Postdoctoral Researcher
We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Zhang to our group. His extensive knowledge in materials growth and semiconductor technology will significantly enhance our research capabilities and contribute to our ongoing projects. We are confident that his presence will be a great asset to our research endeavors and look forward to the advancements his work will bring.
Dr. Fisher Yu Named Twenty-First Century Research Leadership Chair
University of Arkansas’s Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
In a groundbreaking development, Dr. Fisher Yu has been announced as the distinguished Twenty-First Century Research Leadership Chair at University of Arkansas, Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science! marking a significant stride in the realms of academia and research. This prestigious recognitioion highlights Dr. Yu’s outstanding contributions to the fields of electrical engineering and computer science, underscoring his visionary research and impactful leadership. As the newly appointed chair, Dr. Yu is poised to lead groundbreaking initiatives, drive innovation, and foster collaboration within the department.
Advancing Semiconductor Research: ‘µ-ATOMS‘ Energy Frontier Research Center Conference
University of Arkansas, October 26 2023
µ-ATOMS group photo with team and external collaborators
Manipulation of Atomic Ordering for Manufacturing Semiconductors, or µ-ATOMS for short, the newly established Energy Frontier Research Center funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, hosted its first annual conference in late August. The researchers and administrators of the participating institutions as well as DOE program managers, external advisory board members and collaborators met together at the U of A. The conference was a testament to the power of interdisciplinary collaboration and the thirst for scientific discovery. The µ-ATOMS Energy Frontier Research Center is poised to unlock the mysteries of semiconductor atomic ordering, paving the way for groundbreaking advancements in semiconductor manufacturing and the technologies that shape our world. More
The 16th International Conference on Mid-Infrared Optoelectronics: Materials and Devices (MIOMD 2023)
Held at the University of Oklahoma in Norman, Oklahoma on August 6-10, 2023
Our group members with Dr. Jerry Meyer at the MIOMD
Our Research Group Welcomes New Member Rajesh
Rajesh will be working on III-V on Sapphire project
We are pleased to welcome Rajesh to our research group as our newest member! Rajesh has earned his PhD in Physics from the Indian Institute of Technology Jodhpur, Jodhpur, India. He has experience in the development of optoelectronic materials for next-generation LED applications, having previously worked on fabrication process optimization at NTU Taiwan. Rajesh will be working on the III-V on Sapphire project, bringing his expertise to help drive this exciting area of research forward. His expertise in this field and experience in research will be a valuable asset to our team. We are excited to have Rajesh on board and look forward to the contributions he will make to our ongoing research efforts.
Welcome Aboard: Dr. Murtadha joins U of A as a New Nano-Fabrication Lab Manager
Dr. Murtadha will bring extensive experience and visionary leadership
Dr. Murtadha has been named the new manager of the Nano Fabrication Lab at the University of Arkansas. In his new role, Dr. Murtadha will be responsible for training students and researchers on various nan-fabrication steps and developing teaching strategies. He will also troubleshoot and fix minor equipment problems to ensure that the lab runs smoothly. Additionally, He will keep the facility in compliance with the Environmental Health and Safety Department, educate U of A faculty/staff and other guests about the lab’s scientific services, and promote the facility to reach potential users. With his extensive experience and knowledge in the field, Dr. Murtadha is expected to play a crucial role in the success of the Nano Fabrication Lab at U of A.
Our Group Collaborator Dr. Jeffrey Warrender from ARL Has Been Awarded DoD LUCI Fellowship
The LUCI Fellowship program supports collaboration between DoD laboratory scientists and DoD-funded academics.
Dr. Jeffrey Warrender from the Army Research Laboratory (ARL) has been awarded the prestigious Department of Defense (DOD) Laboratory University Collaboration Initiative (LUCI) fellowship. The fellowship will allow Dr. Warrender to collaborate with our research group to study the SiGeSn Short Range Order. The research will aim to provide a better understanding of the short-range ordering in SiGeSn alloys. The LUCI fellowship is highly competitive, and the selection of Dr. Warrender for this fellowship is a testament to his expertise and the potential impact of his research. DoD Press Release
Three Past Students Received Graduate Fellowships including UA DDF
Lucas Miller, Nick Saunders, and Bryton joined the Fisher group at the University of Arkansas as REU students
Three former REU students from our group have achieved notable successes in their academic pursuits. Lucas Miller, has been awarded a prestigious University of Arkansas DDF Fellowship. Meanwhile, two other students have been awarded graduate fellowships. Nick Saunders, a former REU student in our group, has been accepted into the graduate program at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Bryton Grisham, has also been accepted into a top-ranked engineering program, at Georgia Tech. These three students serve as an inspiration to others as they continue to work towards their goals and achieve academic success.
2023 New Students Join Applied Nano & Bio-Photonics Group
Michael, Bria and Ahmed join the Fisher group at the University of Arkansas
We welcome new students Ahmed Shubbar (top left), Bria Collier (bottom left) and Michael Paszek to the Applied Nano & Bio-Photonics group. Ahmed is a Ph.D student who received his Master of Science in Pharmacology from Kent State University, Ohio, and is now pursuing a Ph.D. in Material Science and Engineering. Bria is a Ph.D. student who received a Master’s in Physics from Fisk University and is now pursuing a Ph.D. degree in Material Science and Engineering, and Michael is a Master student who received a Bachelor in Physics from Oglethorpe University, Atlanta and is now pursuing a Master degree in Material Science and Engineering. More information about both students can be found on the “Students” page under the “Personnel” drop down heading at the top of the page. We look forwards to the contributions of all our new students in the years to come!
Shui-Qing “Fisher” Yu: 2022 Faculty Distinguished Achievement in Research Award
Fayetteville, AR: Shui-Qing “Fisher” Yu, professor of electrical engineering, is being honored for his achievement in research. He joined the faculty at the College of Engineering in 2008. Yu is one of the most productive faculty members in the college.
His research productivity resulted in a Multidisciplinary University Research Initiative Award (MURI), totaling $7.5 million over five years, 2019-2024. This prestigious award from the U.S. Department of Defense is highly competitive and the first MURI received at the university. Further details can be found here.
Fisher Group Awarded 10.35 Million DOE EFRC Grant
August 2022 – The Fisher group and collaborators’ proposal is selected for funding by the U.S. Department of Energy’s “Energy Frontier Research Centers” program
The DoE established the Energy Frontier Research Centers (EFRC) program in 2009 as a means to fund promising proposals by institutions who aim to tackle challenges on the path to advancing energy technologies. This year the program awarded $400 million to selected research centers across the U.S. Among the approved proposals was one from the U of A titled “Manipulation of Atomic Ordering for Manufacturing Semiconductors (μ-ATOMS). The principle investigator of this proposal is Dr. Fisher Yu and includes collaboration from our own U of A, Arizona State, George Washington University, Stanford, University of California Berkeley, Sandia National Labs, Dartmouth College, Renssalaer Polytechnic Institute, University of Arkansas Pine Bluff and the University of Delaware. The proposal is fundamental research of short range ordering effects (SRO) in semiconductor materials. Essentially how atoms are arranged in these materials, how these arrangements affect the characteristics of these materials and how the SRO can be manipulated to achieve desirable materials for semiconductor device design. The award grants 10.35 Million over the course of 4 years subject to change based on annual congressional budgeting. The EFRC grant is an exciting opportunity and the Fisher Group and collaborators are eager to meet the challenge! More information about the EFRC grant can be found here at the DoE’s webpage.
Dr. Wei Du Returns to UARK
August 2022 – Fisher Group fellow Wei Du is accepts position as associate professor at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville
Former UARK Ph. D graduate and post doc Wei Du has returned to serve as a professor at BELL in the engineering department. Previously Dr. Wei Du had been working as an assistant professor at Wilkes University also in the electrical engineering department. We welcome back our long time college and collaborator back to UARK and will support him as he continues his excellent work as an educator and researcher. Good to have you back Wei Du!
Solomon Ojo Earns SPIE Optics and Photonics Education Scholarship
June 2022 – In recognition of his potential contributions to the field of optics and photonics Solomon was an SPIE scholarship recipient
Ph.D student Solomon Ojo, member of the International Society for Optical Engineering has been awarded a scholarship for his work on innovative semiconductor material growth and advanced nanofabrication techniques for integrated optoelectronic devices with an emphasis on Silicon-Germanium-Tin alloys. SPIE is awarding $293,000 worth of scholarships to 78 SPIE students in 2022 and Solomon is among the distinguished few to receive this honor.
In his local SPIE chapter, the University of Arkansas “Laserbacks” Solomon is the chapter’s treasurer, and he has been a member since 2018. Further details can be found in SPIE’s official press release here. We congratulate Solomon on his achievement and recognition and look forwards to his continued contributions and success! Great job Solomon.
Fisher Group Student Justin Rudie Successfully Defends his Thesis
May 2022 – Justin Rudie presented his Masters Thesis before his committee and passed successfully.
Justin Rudie who joined the Fisher Group in 2019 presented his Thesis before his committee on May 26th in person and via Zoom. The title of his thesis was “XPS and IPE Determination of Band Offsets of Germanium Based Materials” and his committee consisted of Dr. Fisher Yu, Dr. Gregory Salamo and Dr. Morgan Ware as well as Dr. Mathew Leftwich and Dr. Timothy Morgan as ex-officio members. Justin’s research is focused on characterizing the band structure of materials grown in his research group and is largely funded by the DoD. Justin is also the recipient of two separate SMART scholarship awards and intends to continue his education and pursue a Ph.D in Materials Engineering at the University of Arkansas with this same funding. Wish him luck as he continues to learn and improve as he takes his next steps as a researcher!
Dr. Fisher Yu Receives Dean’s Excellence Award
May 2022 – The University of Arkansas’ College of Engineering recognized Dr. Yu and six other faculty members for their incredible performance
Dean Kim Needy awarded seven faculty with the Dean’s Excellence Award in acknowledgement of their unrelenting drive to perform above and beyond even amidst the challenges posed during the recent Covid restrictions. Dr. Yu was awarded the John L. Imhoff Outstanding Research Award. The award, which is based on nominations by one’s department is a nod to Dr. Yu’s commendable ability to coordinate, fund and execute impactful research along with his team. Congratulations Dr. Yu!
GeSn Laser Paper Featured on Cover Page of Photonics Research Journal
Febuary 2022 – Yiyin Zhou’s world record GeSn electically injected laser paper was presigiously the front article in Photonics Research Vol 10
The paper evaluates the performance of the world’s first functional electrically injected GeSn laser. The laser fabricated in the Yu Group’s facilities was designed to overcome the leakage challenges that previously inhibited lasing via electrical injection. This impressive achievement earned the article a cover page spot in the latest volume of Photonics Research where it can be referenced to guide future research efforts. The summary and link to the article can be found here and a direct link to the article is here.
Congratulations to Tobi on His Successful Ph.D. Dissertation Defense
December 2021 – Oluwatobi (Tobi) Olorunsola successfully defended before his committee
On December 1st Tobi successfully defended his Ph.D. dissertation. His topic was Optical and Structural Properties of GeSn Heterostructures and the public defense was held online via zoom. Tobi is part of cohort 20 of the U of A’s Microelectronics-Photonics graduate program and his committee consisted of Shui-Qing (Fisher) Yu, Gregory Salamo, Hammed Naseem and Zhong Chen. Tobi will now hold his Ph.D. in the field of microelectronics-photonics in addition to his three MS degrees in physics, electrical engineering and geophysics. Tobi is an service member in the U.S. military and will be accepting a work opportunity with the Department of Defense following graduation.
Excellent work Tobi, continue to make UARK and The Fisher Group proud!
Fisher Group Collaborates in 4.4 Million Navy Research Grant
October 2021 – A joint navy funded research effort between Fisher Yu, Gregory Salamo and Jin Hu begins
The navy grant comes as a result of the U.S. military’s continued interest in better materials for cheaper and more effective night vision and infrared technologies. Fisher Yu along with Dr. Salamo and Dr. Hu will be using the funding to upgrade their lab capabilities to further advance silicon germanium tin (SiGeSn) materials and devices. The theoretical performance of SiGeSn devices suggests that the material can perform as well or better than existing material solutions while being produced at a fraction of the cost thanks to their compatibility with the CMOS manufacturing process that is standard in industry. On September 21st an online kick-off meeting was held to officially commence the research effort. In attendance was U.S. Senator Steve Womack who helped secure the funding for this collaboration. Steve aptly stated, “I’m extremely proud of the collaboration between the University of Arkansas and the Navy to develop next-generation night vision sensor technology. This world-class research will produce a prototype that will surpass current technology and increase military capabilities. It will also drive new, high-tech economic opportunities for our region and state. Ingenuity is opening doors to the future, and I will continue to support these efforts in Congress.” Here at the Fisher Yu Lab we share Senator Womack’s enthusiasm and are eager to continue our quality work.
Congratulations to Jake on His Successful Masters Defense
April 2021 – Jacob Bass successfully completed his oral exam for his MSEE
On the 23rd of April Jake successfully gave his Masters oral exam before his committee consisting of: Dr. Fisher Yu (Advisor), Dr. Gregory Salamo, Dr. Zhong Chen and Dr. Samir El-Ghazaly.
Jake pursued a non-thesis Masters and presented a summary of his course work related to semiconductor devices with an emphasis on optoelectronic devices and their applications in integrated photonic circuits. Following his successful oral exam Jake has completed the requirements for his Master of Science in Electrical Engineering. He will be continuing his education in pursuit of a PhD in the same field. Currently his research is focused on theoretical studies on the effects of two-photon absorption on the performance of the Si integrated photonics platform.
Great work Jake, and there is more to come!
2021 New Students Join Applied Nano & Bio-Photonics Group
January 2021 – Niloy and Abdulla join the Fisher group at the University of Arkansas
We welcome new students Niloy Saha (top) and Abdulla Ali to the Applied Nano & Bio-Photonics group this month. Niloy is a Ph.D student who received his Master of Technology in Nano Science and Technology from Jadavpur University, Kolkata, India and is now pursuing a degree in Material Science and Engineering. Abdulla is a Masters student who received a Master’s in Computer Science and Technology from the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff and is now pursuing a Masters degree in Material Science and Engineering. More information about both students can be found on the “Students” page under the “Personnel” drop down heading at the top of the page. We look forwards to the contributions of both our new students in the years to come!
Congratulations to Huong for Successfully Defending her Dissertation
December 2020 – Huong Tran defends her disertation before her committee
Congratulations to Yu Group fellow Huong Tran on Monday 12/14/2020 she successfully defended her dissertation, officially becoming a certified doctorate. She defended her dissertation on “Si-Based Germanium Tin Photodetectors for Infrared Imaging and High-Speed Detection” before her committee and peers. Her committee consisted of Dr. Gergory Salamo (Co-chair), Dr. Hameed Naseem, Dr. Magda El-shenawee and headed by her advisor Dr. Shui-Qing (Fisher) Yu (Chair). The meeting was held online via Zoom in accordance with social distancing regulations. Currently she is planning on filling a post-doctoral research position for Dr. Yu while searching for a position in industry. Great job, Dr. Huong Tran!
Dr. Wei Du Awarded Wilkes University President’s Award
December 2020 – Wei Du receives the Wikes University President’s Award for Excellence in Scholarship
Congratulations to Dr. Wei Du! He was one of just five honored professors to receive President’s Awards in recognition of their achievements. The awards, presented by Wilkes President Greg Cant, recognize individuals who reflect excellence in their work based on the University’s core values. The awards range from excellence in: Diversity, Mentoring, Innovation, Community and Scholarship. Dr. Du received the Award for Excellence in Scholarship for his work in the advancement of knowledge by research and discovery and for his work educating Wilkes constituents. Du’s specific contributions include his research on silicon (Si) technique and its impact on photonic devices. More information and a video acknowledgement for all the recipients of the awards can be found here
Congratulations to Solomon for Successfully Defending his MS Thesis
November 2020 – Solomon Ojo defends his MS thesis before his committee
Congratulations to Yu Group fellow Solomon Ojo for successfully defending his Masters thesis this November. On November 30th Solomon successfully defended his thesis on Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy for the measurement of GeSn/(Si)GeSn for the completion of his MSc Microelectronics-Photonics degree. Solomon’s committee consisted of his major advisor Dr. Shui-Qing (Fisher) Yu, his Co-advisor Dr. Zhong Chen and Dr. Gregory Salamo. Starting in the Spring of 2021 Solomon will continue in the Microelectronics-Photonics program in pursuit of his Ph.D. in Materials science and Engineering (MSE). Great work Solomon!
Congratulations to Tobi for Completing his MS in Electrical Engineering
November 2020 – Oluwatobi Olorunsola successfully defends for his third MS degree
Congratulations to Yu Group fellow Oluwatobi (Tobi) Olorunsola on receiving his third Masters degree this November. Tobi is currently a Ph.D. student enrolled in the Microelectronics Photonics graduate program at the University of Arkansas and has been working to complete his MS in Electrical Engineering in parallel to his Ph.D. On the 17th of November Tobi successfully defended before his committee consisting of Dr. Shui-Qing (Fisher) Yu, Dr. Zhong Chen and Dr. Hameed Naseem. To date Tobi has completed three MS degrees. A MS in Physics from Western Illinois University in 2013, a MS in Geophysics from the University of Oklahoma in 2017 and now his MS in Electrical Engineering. Great job Tobi, no doubt your knowledge and accolades will serve you well in your future pursuits!
Congratulations to Solomon for Doctoral Academy Fellowship
November 2020 – Solomon Ojo is approved as DAF recipient
Congratulations to Yu group fellow Solomon Ojo for being awarded the Doctoral Academy Fellowship (DAF). The DAF is a merit-based award only provided to <45 students per year at the University of Arkansas. The award provides $12,000/year worth of support to students in monthly instalments for up to four years as well as a 12-month, 50% graduate assistantship with the relevant department. This selective award requires a minimum GPA of 3.65 and high GRE stats in order to be eligible. Solomon has demonstrated his hard work and merit by meeting these academic requirements and presenting a convincing submission to the award committee that determines the recipients. Keep up the good work Solomon as you make use of your well earned support.
Successful Completion of First Annual MURI Review Meeting
October 2020 – Collaborators involved in the MURI SiGeSn Research Effort Conducted Their First Annual Review Meeting
On October 5th the first of the MURI Annual Review Meetings was hosted via Zoom conference call in adherence with social distancing restrictions. These meetings mark yearly milestones since the beginning of the research effort in 2019. Representatives from all collaborating universities: The University of Arkansas, Dartmouth College, Arizona State University, The George Washington University and The University of Massachusetts Boston presented their operating status to project evaluators. Collaborators presented an overview of their work to date in spite of the challenges presented by the pandemic and gave projections on what they aimed to complete in the coming year. The demonstration of the first electrically injected GeSn laser by the Fisher Yu group was one of the many research highlights that reflected the efficacy of the work to date. The review demonstrated that the research effort is on track despite the challenges and collaborators have laid out clear next steps in order to continue to meet milestones until the next review in 2021.
Congratulations to Yiyin Zhou on His Successful Ph.D. Defense
October 2020 – Yu Group fellow Yiyin gave his public Ph.D. presentation and successfully defended his dissertation
On October 19th Yiyin presented his dissertation titled “SiGeSn light-emitting devices: from optical to electrical injection” to his committee consisting of Dr. Fisher Yu, Dr. Greg Salamo, Dr. Rick Wise, Dr. Zhong Chen and Dr. Hameed Naseem. Yiyin’s graduate program was the MicroEP program and he has earned his Ph.D in Microelectronics Photonics. Currently Yiyin has secured a position with Lumentum Holdings Inc. where he specializes in photonic chip design. Excellent work Yiyin!
Dr. Fisher Yu Promoted to Full Professor at University of Arkansas
August 2020 – Dr. Yu has moved from Associate Professor to Professor of Electrical Engineering
In recognition of his committed time, merit and achievements Dr. Fisher Yu has been appointed the position of Professor at the University of Arkansas. Dr. Yu began his appointment as an Assistant Professor at the University of Arkansas in August 2008, became a Tenured Associate Professor in August 2014 and has now risen to full Professor status in 2020. We congratulate him and look forwards to more of the quality work that has elevated him to his admirable position. Congratulations Professor Fisher Yu!
New Students Join the Applied Nano & Bio Photonics Group
August 2020 – Welcome to Sudip Acharya and Alex Golden debuting as UARK students and new fellows in the Fisher Group
Beginning fall semester 2020 new Ph.D student Sudip Acharya and Masters student Alex Golden are officially beginning there work in the Fisher Group. Sudip received his a master’s degree in physics from Wright State University, Ohio and is pursuing and Ph.D in Materials Science and Engineering. Alex received his bachelor’s degree in engineering-physics from Southern Arkansas University and is currently pursuing a masters in Material Science and Engineering. We offer a warm welcome as these bright new fellows join the research effort!
Fisher Yu Group Demonstrates First Electrically Injected GeSn Laser
August 2020 – World first demonstration of operational GeSn electrically injected laser
The Fisher Group has published the findings of their demonstration of the first operational electrically injected GeSn laser. The pulse mode laser was operational at temperatures up to 100 K (-279 Fahrenheit) the culmination of many years of development on GeSn research within the group. The findings were published in Optica in a paper authored by group fellow Yiyin Zhou and the research was sponsored by the Air Force Office of Scientific Research. The full story can be found here.
Additional national coverage can be found at: Physics.org, Sciencedaily, photonics.com, compoundsemiconductor, worldindustrialreporter, sciencecodex, Nanotechnology Now, electronicsweekly, zephyrnet.com, chopnews, brightsurf, allaboutcircuits, newslanded, novuslight, vaaju, semiconductor-digest, eurekalert.org, scienmag, nanowerk, scitechupdates, qnewshub, platengineering, aedaily, designdevelopmenttoday, knowridge, viknews, 7thspace, knowledia, esciencenews, anisanews, newsbreak, realclearscience, sellorbuyhomefast, occasion-to-be, newsbeezer.
World wide coverage of this paper can be found at: Spaceforce.org(UK), iscanews.ir(IR), Onlinenews(NZ), zephyrnet(JP), ex-press(JP), Zephyrnet(FR), nach-welt(DE), sott(IT), focustech(IT), laserfocusworld(CN), opticsjournal(CN), sina(CN), sohu(CN), qq(CN), 163(CN), eeworld(CN), iccsz(CN), moore.ren(CN), honsnews(CN), cailiaoniu(CN), sensorexpert(CN), laserfair(CN), compoundsemiconductorchina(CN), byteclicks(CN), scimall.org(CN), oeshow(CN), eda365(CN).
Yu Group Fellow Advances Towards Graduation
July 2020 – Abbas Sabbar successfully defends thesis before committee
Congratulations to Fisher Group fellow Abbas Sabbar on the successful defense of his dissertation! Abbas wrote his dissertation on “Growth and Characterization of Semiconductor Materials for Extreme Environment Applications” under the advisement of Dr. Zhong Chen and Dr. Fisher Yu. His Ph.D. work spans the course of two projects. 1). High-Temperature Optocouplers for Power Electronic Applications, where he investigated high-temperature optoelectronics materials and devices. 2). High-Speed Electronic Devices Using SiGe on Sapphire Technology for Advanced NASA Space Communications, where he grew and characterized SiGe on and Si and sapphire substrates. On July 30, 2020, he successfully defended his dissertation before his committee consisting of Dr. Zhong Chen, Dr. Fisher Yu, Dr. Gregory J. Salamo, and Dr. Hameed A. Naseem, bringing him one step closer to graduation. Great work Abbas!
Chancellor’s Innovation and Collaboration Fund Award
July 2020 – Competitive grant awarded to collaboration between Shui-Qing “Fisher” Yu and Jin Hu
The University of Arkansas Chancellor’s Innovation and Collaboration Fund is an annual funding opportunity that invests 1 million dollars of seeding funding into promising proposals. Among 34 submitted proposals just 10 were chosen by a faculty composed panel in a review process similar to the National Science Foundation’s proceedings. Jin Hu, assistant professor of physics and Shui-Qing “Fisher” Yu, associate professor of electrical engineering, have partnered and were among the ten award recipients. Their proposal seeks to initiate a study on the novel phenomena of light-matter interaction in topological quantum materials and the corresponding device applications.
Congratulations Amir and Aboozar
May 2020 – Lab fellows find employment with major players in semiconductor industry
Congratulations to Seyed Amir Ghetmiri and Aboozar Mosleh Salman for landing prestigious positions at their new places of work, Intel Corporation and Global Foundries respectively. Former Assistant Professor Seyed has begun his work as an Si Photonic Integration Engineer for the corporate giant Intel at their Albuquerque site in New Mexico. Aboozar, also a former Assistant Professor, has entered into his role as a Principle Design Enablement Engineer at Global Foundries, a specialty foundry for the semiconductor industry. We wish them the best in this new chapter of their careers knowing they are well prepared from their time in the Fisher Group.
SMART Scholar Award
April 2020 – Justin Rudie awarded DoD’s SMART Scholar Fellowship
Justin Rudie was recently awarded the Department of Defense’s Science Mathematics and Research for Transformation (SMART) Fellowship. This competitive scholarship opportunity provides recipients with full academic funding for up to five (5) years contingent on agreeable terms of required service repayment scheme equal to the number of years funded upon graduation. Recipients are funded by a supporting facility (Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane) where they will intern during the summers working alongside DoD scientists and engineers. Visit link for award details…..
NEW BOOK CHAPTER RELEASE!
November 2019: SiGeSn Mid-Infrared unique capabilities captured in one piece!
Drs. Wei Du & Fisher Yu were part of a joint effort that published a review text on Mid-Infrared Optoelectronics materials, devices and systems. The duo gave an up-to-date account of the most recent developments in Group IV photonics using SiGeSn technology with targeted interest in mid-infrared technology. The book chapter captures cutting-edge topics in SiGeSn/GeSn material growth techniques, GeSn/SiGeSn-based emiiters and GeSn SWIR and MWIR photodetectors. Be sure to get a read!
MURI KICK-OFF MEETING
October 17-18, 2019: University of Arkansas, Fayetteville hosts MURI team
Fayetteville, AR: Our MURI award kick-off meeting was held at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville. In attendance are representatives from the collaborating universities, defense research laboratories as well as invited industry professionals. The $7.5 million grant kick-off featured on-site facility tours, project research scope definition as well as strategic directives and expectations from principal investigators and program managers. See link for official university press release for further details.
The FUTURE IS HERE!
October 2019 – New Publication Alert!
The future of infrared imaging is here – & here to stay too! We announce the acceptance of our Si-based GeSn mid-infrared imaging manuscript as we also acknowledge the excellent contributions of our team of envelope-pushing world-class researchers. The effort details recent mid-infrared imaging capability of GeSn-enabled photodetector device. See our journal section for fuller details.
NEW PUBLICATION REVEAL!
October 2019 – New Publication Updates
Frontiers in Physics, Crystal Growth Design, Scientific Reports…. & In no distinct order, our most recent publications are upon us and we are all the more elated! A Si-based optically pumped laser operating at 260K, A demonstrated crystalline GaAs film growth on c-plane sapphire as well as a thorough investigation into the effects on the evolution of band gap Γ-character with Sn concentration. The novelty of these work are staggering! Please head over to our journal section for informed reveal….
NEW GRADUATES STUDENTS ALERT!
Fall 2019 – Yu group welcomes new PhD graduate scholars
Fayetteville (AR): We are thrilled to welcome our newest graduate students; Justin Rudie & Emmanuel Wangila. Justin (BS Electrical Engineering, Minnesota State University) is a Doctoral Academy Fellow, and with Emmanuel (MS Physics, University of Nairobi, Kenya) are both pursuing advanced degrees in Microelectronics and Photonics. We wish them the very best in their future endeavors.
2019 MURI AWARD RECIPIENT
April 2019 – Our Group Selected for the Prestigious DOD’s MURI Grant
Fayetteville (AR): Our research group has been selected as one of this year’s twenty-four (24) recipients of the highly-competitive Multidisciplinary University Research Initiative (MURI) grant from the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD). The prestigious award through the Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR) is justified under the project title ”Understanding and Breaking the Material Barriers of SiGeSn Alloys for Infrared Devices” for the special topic category ”Group-IV Alloy Synthesis and Materials Properties”. The University of Arkansas, Fayetteville led-grant is jointly awarded to a team of world-class researchers from Arizona State University, Dartmouth University, George Washington University and the University of Massachusetts, Boston. See link for official University and DoD press release and award details.
Editor’s Pick – Again!
August 2019 – Optical Materials Express recognizes contribution to materials research
The fall season is off to a great start as we welcome news recognizing our group’s contribution to semiconductor materials research and application. Our recently published work on ” UHV-CVD growth of high quality GeSn using SnCl4: from material growth development to prototype device” was selected as this month’s editor’s pick by the Optical Materials Express Journal and we couldn’t be more excited. Be sure to visit our conference and journals section to be caught up with our most research updates.
New Publication Alert – & World Record Too!
Spring 2019 – ACS Photonics accepts Optically Pumped GeSn Laser Paper
We announce the acceptance of our optical pumping laser manuscript in ACS Photonics Journal. The publication details recent operational revelations of optically pumped edge-emitting devices at 270K. Findings on these exotic GeSn lasers were demonstrated on ridge and planar waveguide structures as enabled by novel CVD material growth. Please see our journal section and official university news release for fuller details.
NASA EPSCoR AWARD
Summer 2019 – NASA EPSCoR grant awarded to team of distinguished researchers.
By teaming with Prof. Zhong Cheng, Prof. Gregory Salamo, and colleagues from UAPB, our proposal “High Speed Electronic Devices Using SiGe on Sapphire Technology for Advanced NASA Space Communications” was selected for a $750,000 NASA EPSCoR award. In this project, we will develop novel rhombohedral phase SiGe grown on sapphire for high speed electronics. This work originally started through a collaboration with Dr. Sang Choi from NASA Langley center and evolved over the years. We are excited to continue this fruitful collaboration.
SPIE Scholarship Recognition
Spring 2019 – Doctoral Candidate Awarded SPIE Distinguished Education Fellowship
BELLINGHAM, Washington, USA – 20 May 2019 – Oluwatobi ”Tobi” Olorunsola has been awarded a 2019 Optics and Photonics Education Scholarship by SPIE, the international society for optics and photonics for his potential contributions to the field of optics, photonics or related field. Tobi will be the third recipient of this grand award in the history of our university. Congratulations!
Alumni News
Spring 2019 – Yu Lab’s Alumni earns national award for highest Google citation.
Yu Lab’s Alumni and University of Wasit Professor, Sattar Al-Kabi (Ph.D.) recently received the award for the ”highest H-index google scholar citation recognition” by the Governor of Wasit, Iraq. The award recognizes innovative and high-impact contributions by a scientist and ranks the overall national highest amongst colleges and research centres in Iraq. Dr. Al-Kabi attributed this meritorious accomplishment to the quality of his Ph.D. work here. We wish him the very best in his future endeavors.
Award Announcements
Spring 2019 – Dr. Wei Du receives Wilkes University’s Outstanding Faculty Award.
Dr. Du was recently announced Wilkes University’s Outstanding New Faculty Award recipient for the 2018-2019 academic session. The award honors the accomplishments and contributions of a second or third-year junior faculty at Wilkes who has shown excellence at and demonstrated outstanding initiatives in and outside of the classroom. He received this meritorious award shortly on the count of the second year of his appointment with the University. We are super-proud of your strides, Dr. Du. Our congratulations are in order!
Spring 2019 – Graduation Update
Congratulations to our newest graduate!!! Joshua ”Matt” Grant successfully defended his masters thesis on the topic ”Investigation of Critical Technologies of Chemical Vapor Deposition for Advanced (Si)GeSn Materials. As an extension of his masters work, Matt will continue to lead our growth and characterization efforts as he immediately resumes PhD studies.
Spring 2019 – JVST Publication Accepted
2019 is off to a great start as we announce the acceptance of our recent submission to the Journal of Vacuum Science & Technology. This work feature our effort in understanding the chemistry and kinetics governing hydrides/chlorides in GeSn epitaxial CVD growth. Do see our journal’s page for more details.
Fall 2018 – Graduation Updates
We are proud to announce the meritorious achievements of two of our graduate students who completed their degrees this Fall. Bader Alharthi successfully defended his PhD dissertation on the title ”Growth and Characterization of SiGeSn Semiconductors via PECVD for Future Nanophotonics Devices’’ while Hironaka Takayuki through his work on ‘’Exfoliation, Synthesis, and Characterization of Nanoscale Te” defended his Masters thesis. We wish Dr. Alharthi and Takayuki the best in the future endeavors!
Accepted Paper Announcements
Two of our most recent submissions have been accepted in the Optical Materials Express and Applied Physics Letters Journals. The publications detail our findings on GeSn growth by Plasma Enhanced Chemical Vapor Deposition as well as recent revelations of 800K drop spontaneous quantum efficiency investigation for future power electronics. Please visit our journal section details.
Editor’s Pick? Yeah!
Our 2018 paper on ”Crystalline GeSn Growth by Plasma Enhanced Chemical Vapor Deposition” made it to Optical Material Express editor’s pick.
October 2018
Yu’s group welcomes Visiting Scholar from Xidian University (China)
We welcome Xidian University’s YuanHao Miao (PhD Candidate, Xidian’s School of Microelectronics) to our research group. At Xidian, YuanHao currently works under the supervision of Prof. Huiyong Hu with research focus in GeSn optoelectronics devices. As visiting research scholar here at the University of Arkansas, he will be pursuing same interest in our device characterization and fabrication labs while also completing his PhD dissertation. We wish him the very best!
September 2018 – New Publications Alert!
We are thrilled to announce the acceptance of three of our most recent research findings in Optics Letters, Optical Materials Express and Nanotechnology. These work include profound studies on GeSn plasma growth, direct bandgap investigations of GeSn/GeSn double quantum wells and our optically pumped GeSn capabilities. See journal/publications section for details.
July 2018 – NSF Grant Award
Drs. Fisher Yu and Greg Salamo have just been awarded a 3-year NSF grant on the study of ”Quantum Interfaces for dissimilar materials”. The research hoped is to provide significant insights to the design of material interfaces. Congratulations to the team!
July 2018 – New PhDs & MS Degrees Students
We are excited to welcome four new additions to the research group: Solomon Ojo, Tobi Olorunsola, Sylvester Amoah and Jake Bass. Solomon and Jake will be pursuing MS degrees while Sylvester and Tobi are on the PhD track. We wish them the very best in their research endeavors.
Plenary Talk:
Dr. Fisher Yu recently gave a plenary talk titled, “Development of SiGeSn Technique towards Integrated Mid-Infrared Photonics Applications” at the IEEE Summer Topical meeting held in Waikoloa, Hawaii, USA.
July 2018 – Upcoming Conferences & Plenary Talks
For a fuller update of the group’s research progress, please be sure to attend our talks in the upcoming conferences below:
15th International Conference on Group IV Photonics, Cancun, Mexico
Aug. 29-31, 2018
Speaker: Dr. Fisher S. Yu
Title: “Development of SiGeSn Technique towards Integrated Mid-Infrared Photonics Applications”
Americas International meeting on Electrochemistry & Solid State Science, Cancun, Mexico
Sept. 30 – Oct. 4, 2018
Title: ‘’Development of Si-Based SiGeSn Technique Towards Short-Wave and Mid-Infrared Applications’’
June 2018 – Yu’s Lab graduates three PhDs!
We celebrate the graduation of three Ph.D. students in our group: Wei Dou, Thach Pham, and PC Grant. We highly value their contribution to our group. Farewell to these fellows working years with us. Wish them all the best in their future career.
(Wei is going to work in Applied Material, Inc. Thach will join N5 Sensors, Inc. PC is employed by Air Force Research Lab.)
June 2018
Collaborating with Dr. Fisher Yu’s lab in UA, UAPB received $735,000 research grant from U.S. Air Force Office of Scientific Research for Middle-Infrared Si-photonics for Integrated Microwave Photonics. UA is the sub-award and will get 50% of funding. The project proposes to conduct an innovative basic research to investigate the feasibility of obtaining a fully Integrated Microwave Photonics (IMWP) platform on Si substrate.
June 2018
Dr. Fisher Yu received $600,000 from U.S. Air Force Office of Scientific Research for Room temperature continuous wave SiGeSn/GeSn quantum well lasers monolithically integrated on Si. The project will seek the answer to a fundamental question: Would GeSn based lasers ever be able to be used as the light source for Si photonic integration?
June 2018
Dr. Fisher Yu received $145,109 equipment award from U.S. Air Force Office of Scientific Research for Acquisition of an Upgrading Kit for SiGeSn Epitaxy to Develop a Material Foundry for SiGeSn Based Optoelectronics. The funding will provide the community accessing high-quality SiGeSn material with affordable cost.
June 2018
Congratulations to P. C. Grant for success on Ph.D. dissertation defense. His topic is “GeSn Thin Film Epitaxy and Quantum Wells for Optoelectronic Devices”. His made great contribution on GeSn/Ge synthesis using UHV-CVD system and characterization of GeSn QWs. We sincerely hope he will have a bright future on his career.
May 2018
We have Arkansas NASA EPSCoR Project Review Meeting on May 24th. The team of UA Fayetteville, UA Little Rock, UA Pine Bluff joined together and had series of presentations during Dr. Sang Choi’s visit.
May 2018
Congratulations to Wei Dou for successfully defending his Ph.D. dissertation. His topic is “High-Sn-Content GeSn Alloy towards Room-Temperature Mid Infrared Laser”. He made a great contribution to our GeSn growth, characterization, and laser devices study. We wish him the best on the next step of his career.
May 2018
Our research group presents 5 presentations in CLEO 2018, San Jose, CA. The topics include GeSn MQW characterization, GeSn optically pumped laser, GeSn photodiode, QD Single Photon Detection, and high-temperature PL study of InGaN/GaN MQWs. For more info, please check our conference presentations.
April 2018
Congratulations to Thach Pham for successfully defending his Ph.D. dissertation. His topic is “Si-Based Germanium Tin Photodetectors for Short-Wave and Mid-Wave Infrared Detections”. He made a great contribution to our GeSn photodetector development and study. We wish him the best on the next step of his career.
April 2018
Our research team (Dr. Fisher Yu; Dr. Greg Salamo; Dr. Yang Zhang; and colleagues from Dartmouth and the University of Wisconsin) recently presented work in ACS Photonics on studying single photons detection using capacitive coupling of single quantum dots. More info please check in UA news.
February 2018
By a contribution of the whole team, we demonstrated GeSn optically pumped laser operation at 180 K. The work was published in ACS Photonics. The key results of this work show a major advance toward laser sources for integrated photonics. Please find more information in the UA news and Laser Focus World.
February 2018
Our recently published journal article was selected as Editor’s Pick. The work demonstrated the GeSn/GeSn single quantum well grown on GeSn buffer, achieving type-I alignment direct band gap emission. Please find more information in AIP Advances.
February 2018
Congratulations to our previous group members, Seyed Amir Ghetmiri and Aboozar Mosleh (Salman), on their new career as tenure-track faculty in University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB). They are joining the Chemistry and Physics Department. Amir will serve as Assistant Professor of Physics and Mathematics and Salman will serve as Assistant Professor of Nanoscience Physics More intensive collaboration will be conduct between UAF and UAPB. More info can be found from press release from UAPB: Salman; Amir.
January 2018
Our research member, Dr. Yang Zhang, joins to ASU MBE optoelectronics group for his future career. We congratulate his new position at ASU and wish him all the best!
November 2017
Our research team (Dr. Hugh Churchill, Dr. Fisher Yu, Dr. Greg Salamo, Dr. Salvador Barraza-Lopez, and Dr. Jin Hu ) recently moved forward on the research initiative aiming to study single atom chains with exfoliated Tellurium. For more information please find in the Publication and UA news.
August, 2017
Dr. Ben Conley was recently recognized as the finalist of the CNR Concept Challenge. Nine finalists were selected out of over 200 submissions. His awarded project is to develop a new type of uncooled thermal infrared sensor. Dr. Conley graduated from our research group in 2014. He is currently an employee of the NSWC Crane. Check for more info.
August, 2017
Dr. Fisher Yu was elected to serve as conference chair for the 14th International Conference on Mid-IR Optoelectronics: Materials and Devices. Check for more info.
August, 2017
Professor Samir El-Ghazaly and Shui-Qing “Fisher” Yu have been awarded a grant of $250,000 to develop an integrated microwave photonics chip. Check for more info.
July, 2017
Dr. Fisher Yu was elected to chair the IEEE Photonics Society Summer Conference series for the third consecutive year. Check for more info.
July, 2017
Our previous group member, Dr. Wei Du, joins Wilkes University as Assistant Professor. Congratulations to Dr. Du for his new faculty position!
June, 2017
We welcome Lauren Corby joining our group as REU student for summer 2017. She will participate the research training and practice during the session.
May, 2017
Dr. Sang Choi visited our lab for the NASA EPSCoR program review. We feel excited to report our progress and exchange ideas.
May, 2017
We congratulate Sattar passed his Ph.D. defense. He had a lot of achievements during the past few years, which make his work outstanding. We appreciate all his work for the group.
October, 2016
We gathered our friends and families at Veteran’s Memorial Park to have the bbq, celebrating our recent achievements and Amir’s graduation.
October, 2016
We welcome our new postdoctoral fellow, Dr. Yang Zhang, to the group. He will join our DARPA/ARO project working on the single-photon detector.
More info about Dr. Zhang: click here
October, 2016
Our optically pumped GeSn double heterostructure (DHS) laser was published in Applied Physics Letter. Benefiting from the DHS, the laser features lower threshold and higher operating temperature. The paper is available online: http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.4966141
August, 2016
DOE EPSCoR awarded the collaborative research project among three research groups in UA (Dr. Chen, Dr. Yu, and Dr. Mantooth).
More Info: click here
August, 2016
DARPA/ARO DETECT Program awarded the collaborative research project among Dartmouth Colledge (Dr. Jifeng Liu) and two research groups in UA (Dr. Fisher Yu and Dr. Greg Salamo).
More Info: click here
July, 2016
We are blessed to have two REU students , Randy Quinde and Bria Collier working with us this summer. We appreciate their efforts wish them the all best in the future.
June, 2016
Warm welcome Dr. Sang Choi for the NASA grant monitor. We feel excited not only to show him our teamwork but to have a plenty of insightful discussions.
March, 2016
Congratulations to Sattar for the success on his Candidacy Exam.
March, 2016
AFOSR-SBIR awarded the collaborative research project among Arktonics, ASM, and our research group in UA.
September, 2015
Our CVD now has the capability of gas mixing component for uniform growth and accurate flow rate control.
August, 2015
Our group joined together near Lake Wedington for the picnic. We congratulate Aboozar Mosleh’s passing of his Ph.D. defense and farewell to the leaving member, Dr. Wei Du.
August, 2015
Welcome Joshua M. Grant (Matt) joining our research group. He was the REU student joining the growth research last summer. He started his MS. study in MicroEP program this fall semester.
August, 2015
Farewell to Dr. Wei Du and congratulate on his new position in UAPB. He made tremendous contribution on group research and management in recent years. We will keep colaborate between two campus in the future.
July, 2015
Summer REU session has come to the end. Farewell to Eleni and wish the best on her future study.
June, 2015
We received the NASA/EPSCoR grant for the investigation of cost-effective solar devices for areospace application. For more info, please check the news release: click here
June, 2015
Our group was awarded from the Defense University Research Instrumentation Program (DURIP). This award will use to support the advanced optical and electrical characterization system.
June, 2015
Warm welcome to Eleni-James Becton, the REU student for Summer 2015. She will join the research activities and have the opportunity to experience our advanced research.