The Research Laboratory of Electronics
The Research Laboratory of Electronics (RLE) was the first of MIT’s modern interdepartmental academic research centers. It is now one of its largest and most diverse centers of electronics research in both scope and intellectual interests. RLE research begins at the most basic physical realm of particles and quantum physics and extends to the most sophisticated engineering application technologies. The Laboratory seeks to develop basic understanding and intellectual means to model complex phenomena and to create a foundation for building new high-performance technologies. Toward this end RLE is the host to major research and educational activities including the Center for Ultracold Atoms (CUA), the Center for Integrated Photonic Systems (CIPS), the W. M. Keck Foundation Center for Extreme Quantum Information Theory (xQIT), and the Integrated Quantum Information Science and Engineering (iQuISE) Program.
RLE researchers come from eight MIT academic departments. Students participate across multiple academic divisions as well, and in collaboration with investigators and institutions from outside the Institution, this multidisciplinary team engages in RLE’s six main research areas:
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Circuits, systems, signals, and communications
RLE explores all aspects of electronics, including structures, devices, and circuits; analog and digital systems; MEMs and bioMEMs; nanotechnologies; numerical and computational simulation and prototyping; biologically-inspired systems; digital signal processing; advanced telecommunications; medical imaging; and wireless networking and devices.
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Physical sciences
RLE investigates ultracold atoms; quantum condensed gases; atom optics, lasers, interferometry, and waveguides; surface physics; quantum reflection; plasmas; and electromagnetics.
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Quantum computation and communication
This area of emphasis features efforts in quantum information processing and transmission, quantum computation, superconducting circuits, and quantum teleportation.
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Photonic materials devices and systems
This theme includes significant efforts in integrated photonic devices, modules and systems for applications in communications and sensing, femtosecond optics, laser technologies, photonic bandgap fibers and devices, materials fabrication, laser medicine and medical imaging, and millimeter-wave and terahertz devices.
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Nanoscale science and engineering
RLE conducts research in fabricating surface structures at nano scales, nanomagnetics and microphotonics, periodic structures, superconductive materials, and carbon nanotubes.
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Multiscale bioengineering and biophysics
RLE activities include research in bio-inspired electronics and neural prostheses; nano- and micro-technologies to understand and manipulate biological processes at the cellular and molecular level; imaging and computational modeling of disease and neuro-anatomical processes; and communication biophysics, including language, speech, hearing and haptics.
