Alexander Balandin, distinguished professor of electrical and computer engineering, and Fariborz Kargar, adjunct assistant professor, both of the Marlan
and Rosemary Bourns College of Engineering (BCOE), received Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) funding of $741,000 from the National Science Foundation
to develop a unique spectroscopy facility at the University of California, Riverside’s (UCR) Phonon Optimized Engineering Materials (POEM) Center. The project, “MRI: Development of a Cryogenic Integrated Micro-Raman-Brillouin-Mandelstam Spectrometer,” aims to build an integrated micro-Raman-Brillouin-Mandelstam spectrometer system that can analyze samples at cryogenic, or very low, temperatures, and cover much wider spectrum range, unlike its predecessors. “The instrument’s capability of conducting measurements at low temperatures is particularly important for studying magnetic materials,” said Balandin. “The spectral range and design of the spectrometer allow for its use for samples of small dimensions and thicknesses.” According to Balandin, successful implementation of this BMS tool will incentivize Brillouin spectroscopy instrumentation at a national scale and elevate its techniques to the level enjoyed by its more common counterpart, Raman spectroscopy.

Link to a complete UCR press release: https://www.engr.ucr.edu/news/2020/07/27/national-science-foundation-mri-
grant-fund-development-unique-spectroscopy-system