INTRODUCTION

The Space Nanotechnology Laboratory (SNL) is located in the MIT Kavli Institute for Astrophysics and Space Research (MKI). The SNL, along with our companion laboratory, the NanoStructures Laboratory (NSL), is a member of the Microsystems Technology Laboratories (MTL), a consortium of campus microfabrication facilities with shared interests.

Our expertise is in the fields of nanofabrication, nanometer-accuracy x-ray optics fabrication, assembly and metrology, ultra-high resolution lithography, nanometrology, and nano-accuracy diffraction grating fabrication.

The SNL maintains active collaborations with groups in the Departments of Mechanical, Electrical, Aero/Astro Engineering, and Physics and is interested in expanding these contacts.

The SNL is the premier laboratory in the world for research in interference lithography and diffraction grating fabrication. Our laboratory developed the world’s most advanced grating patterning tool, the Nanoruler, which has a precision of well under 3 nanometers.

MISSION

Our primary mission is to develop nano-fabrication, advanced lithography and precision engineering technology for building high performance space instrumentation, including x-ray telescopes and high resolution x-ray spectrometers, magnetospheric imagers and solar physics instrumentation.

Our lab is also a leader in the field of nanometer and sub-nanometer dimensional metrology applied to planar lithography patterning and ultrahigh accuracy optics.

Education and training of students is an important part of our mission. Research in the SNL is performed primarily by graduate and undergraduate students from the Departments of Mechanical, Electrical, Aero/Astro Engineering, and Physics with support from a small professional staff.