David Bishop

Optical Micromirror Measurement

PROJECT DESCRIPTION
The Bishop Lab at Boston University does research on MEMS devices.  MEMS (micro electro mechanical systems) are micromachines with characteristic dimensions less than that of a human red blood cell.  Projects in the lab include smart lighting, RF devices, writing with atoms, the Casimir Effect, optical metamaterials, mechanical metamaterials and ultrasensitive magnetic field measurements.

The project this summer involves using an optical measuring system to characterize a new type of micromirror we have developed.  This mirror can be the heart of a large optical switch, a lidar system or LiFi for data transmission.  The activities include fabricating the device, packaging it and testing it with a laser and position sensitive detector.  The data will then be compared with a model developed using COMSOL, a commercial software package.

LEARNING GOALS
At the end of the summer, the student will have learned to design, test and model MEMS devices.

Learn more about Professor Bishop at his faculty page.