We present below a brief introduction as to the goals and function of this new facility:

Nano-science stands today at the forefront of academic research, and nano-technology is expected to be the driving engine of the 21st century. These emerging fields are all about the unique realm of 0.1-100 nano meter (nm), stretching from the size of a single atom to that of a large molecule (1nm = 1 billionth of a meter).

The ability to control matter on this scale is in many ways analogous to that favorite game we call Lego. If an atom or a molecule is one piece of Lego, and if the different colors depict different types of atom and molecule building blocks, we are today capable of building piece by piece completely new materials and structures. These new constructions can be designed to have advanced qualities and complex functionalities while becoming smaller and cheaper. Aside from fascinating fundamental science, the list of applications is endless. To name but a few fields which will greatly benefit we mention quantum technology, aerospace, electronics, medicine and medical devices, clean water and energy, and bio-technology.

In order to facilitate rapid advance in these truly novel avenues of knowledge, the Ben Gurion University has formed an interdisciplinary research consortium named the Ilse Katz center for Meso and Nanoscale science and technology. The fabrication center we are currently inaugurating is one of the service and R&D units of the parent center.

One of the main problems of working in this realm of very small sizes is the interaction between these small entities and the outside world. For example, how do we establish a mechanical and an information link between us and this nano world? Namely, how do we hold these tiny things, how do we tell them what we want them to do, and how do we measure what they eventually did? The aim of our facility is to develop smart interfaces between this nano world and the outside world. These interfaces will be made of chips, much like computer chips, with intermediate structures on the scale of 100nm-1mm, on top of which atoms, molecules and nano structures will be grown or placed.

Our smart interface is not only about sizes. It is also about material interfaces. For example, traditionally, modern electronics and optics are made of inorganic materials. However, more and more novel materials are organic. Our facility is thus designed to give maximum flexibility in realizing interface designs with different sizes, functions, and materials. Our philosophy is to make every effort to utilize existing machines in other fabrication centers in Israel and to add to those a variety of unique machines (e.g. CMP, Ion Milling) and processes (e.g. SiC) not easily found in Israel. Our facility will develop abilities in technologies such as MEMs (micro elecro mechanical systems), Photonics (planar micro optics), and metallic and dielectric layers (commonly used in micro electronics), to form functional interfaces as described above.

The extreme example of a smart interface developed in our new facility, has to do with Matter Wave Quantum Technology (MWQT). Indeed, this is the first fab in Israel dedicated to the R&D of enabling techniques for MWQT (see link to recent presentation). MWQT stands at the extreme scale of the nano realm. It deals with single particles such as atoms or ions. In this realm the usual laws of nature are replaced by a new set of bizarre rules called Quantum mechanics. Here, new phenomena allow one to envisage devices such as ultra accurate clocks and navigation systems, exceptionally precise gravitational field sensors, magnetic field sensors, secure communications and even super computers named the "quantum computer". In our facility we are already designing and fabricating several types of AtomChips and IonChips (some, in collaboration with European and American labs). As atoms are extremely sensitive beings, our R&D is taking us into fascinating issues regarding the connection between light and matter (we are developing high Q resonators in the visible for single photon - single atom interaction), the connection between the isolated atoms and the chip surface (causing de-phasing and the destruction of the quantum rules), and so on.

The facility will also conduct R&D on less demanding interfaces. A prime area of work will be interfaces to "soft" and biological/chemical materials. An example of such a smart interface currently being designed at BGU is a bio-sensor chip which will be employed in homeland security tasks to detect minute biological or chemical contaminations in water and air. Another example is an RNA chip utilizing RNA molecules a subtle detector. A chip will also be used to connect to living tissue (e.g. Brain tissue).

Other examples of on-going BGU projects which would benefit from this new facility are water desalination and purification, clean energy (solar and fuel cells), self assembled quantum dots, miniature microphones, optical amplifiers, and more (see link to projects).

To conclude, we at BGU are entering a new and exciting phase in our ability to interact with extremely small scales. We are looking forward to the realization of novel ideas and concepts, to fruitful collaborations with other academic institutions in Israel and abroad, and to supporting the R&D effort of the high-tech industry.