The Superlattice Project got an impressive and enthusiastic show of support April 20 when U.S. Rep. Robin Hayes led a tour for prominent education, defense and industry officials of Northrop Grumman/SYNOPTICS’ facilities.

Congressman Hayes, a member of the U.S. House of Representatives Armed Services Committee, is a major supporter of the Superlattice Project, a partnership between the company, the University of North Carolina-Charlotte (UNCC) and the Department of Defense (DoD).  He has secured $500,000 in DoD funding for the Superlattice Project, some of which will support a research partnership between and the University of North Carolina-Charlotte. 

Superlattice Project funding is the result of recent developments in superlattice nanotechnology, which has shown that extraordinary advances in power, frequency, heat consumption, radiation shielding and reliability can be achieved in military electronics.  Superlattice nanotechnology will form the structure of the next- generation in RF electronics (electronics warfare, radar, communications), radiation hard electronics (satellite, special use), and unique electronics in general. The key to this technology advancement lies with the infusion of superlattice technology into the Silicon-Carbide device.  This technology application is only the beginning of a new era in electronic development that holds the promise of the future for the next generations of advantages for the defense industry.

In addition to Rep. Hayes, those attending included Dr. Jim Woodward, Chancellor of UNCC; Ted Glum, director of DoD’s MicroElectronics Activity; Dr. Stephen R. Mosier, Associate Vice Chancellor for research and Interim Chief Information Officer at UNCC; Dr. Ray Tsu, a UNCC professor who’s directing the project for the university.          

Congressman Hayes stated, “SYNOPTICS is one of the premier facilities for crystals and superlattice wafers.  Their work in this important field is well complimented with the critical research at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, a great research institution.  I am very glad that I was able to secure federal funding to help facilitate this partnership between the Department of Defense, SYNOPTICS, and UNC-Charlotte.  I believe that this partnership will be a true asset for our national security, the Charlotte business community, and the research facilities at UNC-Charlotte.  I greatly enjoyed my recent, informative visit to the SYNOPTICS facility and I look forward to a continued relationship with these good folks.

Joe Rutherford, the vice president/general manager of SYNOPTICS, stated, “The impressive support we have received for the Superlattice Project today clearly demonstrates its importance to future national security, and will provide economic opportunities for our local area, including the utilization of educational resources at UNCC.  We will utilize a portion of the funding working with UNCC to develop a plan to transfer the superlattice research to a new manufacturing facility to be built at SYNOPTICS’ facility in the future.  The tour and visit by such an outstanding group of military, education and industry authorities was an excellent opportunity for us to highlight SYNOPTICS’ many capabilities.  Such recognition underscores the critical nature of the work we do here everyday, and it emphasizes our leading role in industry and government programs.”