Department of Applied Physics and Photonics
| Institute: | Vrije Universiteit Brussel |
|---|---|
| Address: |
Pleinlaan 2 1050 Brussel Belgium |
| Website: | VUB-TONA website |
| Contact person | Thienpont Hugo |
| Presentation: | TONA.pdf (570.72 kB) |
Description
The TONA-VUB group is equipped with top-quality modeling tools and computing infrastructure, micro-optical measurement instrumentation housed in clean-room conditions, and has the disposal of a unique large-scale cyclotron facility for the prototyping of "Plastic 3-D micro-optical modules" with high-aspect ratio ion-beam lithography. With these facilities TONA-VUB will contribute to the respective "Modeling and Design", "Measurement and Instrumentation" and "Prototyping, Mastering and Replication" service and technology providing centres of NEMO.
The current research of TONA-VUB is focused on "Free-space micro-optics for high-density MCM optical interconnects", for which it gets worldwide recognition, and "Fibre Bragg Gratings in micro-structured optical fibres for sensing applications". TONA-VUB is therefore an excellent candidate to take a leading role in those long-term research activities of NEMO that focus on "Micro-Optics for PCB- and MCM-level Interconnects" and on "Micro-Optical Structures for Sensing".
VUB is one of the first universities on the European continent to organize and successfully run a full-fledged Photonics Engineering curriculum. TONA-VUB is also very active in European student exchange programs, mainly in the framework of TEMPUS and ERASMUS/ SOCRATES. The members of TONA-VUB are moreover playing an important role in organizing optics and photonics related conferences. TONA-VUB will therefore transfer its expertise to those activities of the network that focus on "Mobility, Training and Distance Learning" and on "Conferences, Workshops and Public Awareness".
Finally, over the last ten years, TONA-VUB has built up a considerable expertise in networking with academic groups and research institutes on a national, a European and a world-level. It has furthermore collaborated with national and international companies on national and EC funded industry-oriented micro-optics and micro-photonics projects. TONA-VUB will therefore play a key-role in NEMO's "Industrial interface and valorisation centre" and will take the leading role as a coordinator in "Management and Co-ordination Activities".
