Students use custom software to design thin film layered structures with novel optical properties. These components have been used in laser systems, medical diagnostic equipment, and other appliations. The lab also contains a novel spectrometer for measuring the optical properties of thin films on curved surfaces. This spectrometer was specially designed to measure the optical properties of the solar visors which are part of the space suit for NASA's Space Shuttle astronauts. The Semiconductor Laboratory has facilities to produce thin films by evaporation and RF sputtering, measure DC electrical properties, and make electrical noise measurements.
Current investigations focus on the study of indium oxide and indium nitride systems.
On the way is a new laboratory to investigate magneto-optic properties of novel thin films.