Northrup Grumman Boosts UC Florida Photonics Research

ORLANDO, Fla., Aug. 25 -- University of Central Florida (UCF) optics researchers and students are poised to become leaders in the next generation of computer chip manufacturing, thanks to a $24 million donation of intellectual property, equipment and cash from Northrop Grumman Corp.

The largest donation in UCF's history, it will boost the College of Optics and Photonics’ research in extreme ultraviolet lithography, a process that computer chip manufacturers expect to begin using in about four years because it will allow for smaller, denser features to be imprinted on chips. UCF already is researching the shorter-wavelength light sources that will be used in extreme ultraviolet lithography.

"This now gives us a platform to train the future scientists and engineers who are going to be needed as this new form of lithography comes into being," said optics professor Martin Richardson, who is the first Northrop Grumman professor of x-ray photonics at UCF. "We can now broaden our optics program into a program of major impact in the extreme ultraviolet lithography field."

Northrop Grumman is contributing about $22 million in intellectual property, which includes patents and patent applications. The California-based company also is donating equipment worth about $2 million that will give UCF the latest technology in extreme ultraviolet optics and about $140,000 in cash to help pay for equipment maintenance and for Richardson's professorship. The cash donation will be made over the next four years.

For more information, visit: www.creol.ucf.edu