Canadian university breaks new ground with combined quantum-nano research centre
The University of Waterloo in Ontario, is breaking ground on a $160m investment in a new Quantum-Nano Centre (QNC). The new centre will be home to not one but two forefront areas of science and engineering -- quantum information technology and nanotechnology and will house a large cleanroom area.
Quantum deals with the atomic and sub-atomic levels, where the usual laws of physics do not apply; things can, for instance, exist in two places at the same time. Nanotechnology deals with the fabrication and behaviour of materials, devices and systems in the size range of atoms or molecules, generally 100 nanometres or smaller.
The potential synergies produced by nano and quantum researchers working side by side will be unique and groundbreaking, says the University. No other quantum group in the world has a direct in-house bridge to a major nanotech institute and no nanotech centre has the opportunity to partner in developments at the leading edge of quantum information technologies.
Warterloo University chancellor Mike Lazaridis, said the facility will be home to the Institute for Quantum Computing, the Waterloo Institute for Nanotechnology and UW's undergraduate program in nanotechnology engineering. It will be able to accommodate the needs of up to 400 academics, equally split between the quantum and nano sides, with most coming from the faculties of engineering, mathematics and science.
The five-storey facility will include a 10,000-sq ft class 100 and 1000 cleanroom with state-of-the-art fabrication facilities for quantum and nano devices, an advanced metrology suite, extensive teaching and research laboratories, seminar rooms and offices.
Mechanical and electrical systems account for close to 50% of the construction costs. The building will feature low vibration, low electromagnetic interference and radio frequency interference environments employing advanced structural, mechanical and electrical designs.
The Government of Ontario is providing $50m for construction of QNC. Another $22 m is coming from a $50m donation from the Lazaridis family. The remaining funding involves federal funding, private donations and university funds.
The Mike and Ophelia Lazaridis Quantum-Nano Centre, named after the founder of the Blackberry company, is scheduled to open late in 2010 or early 2011.
Aecon Group Canada's largest publicly traded construction andinfrastructure development company has been awarded the multimillion dollar contract to build the centre.