Research
The School of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) has a rich history of research and education that dates back to 1888. Many landmark innovations in radiotelephony, television, and electric power were developed by Purdue faculty-innovations that have helped shape the modern world. In that same tradition of research excellence, our ECE faculty continues to pioneer new technical frontiers. With more than 80 of the nation's finest researchers, ECE faculty and students have published hundreds of papers during the year in top quality journals and conference proceedings.
Research Areas
Preeminent Teams
Quantum Photonics
Quantum photonics could make possible future quantum information systems far more powerful than today's computers. The research team is led by Vladimir M. Shalaev, scientific director of nanophotonics at Purdue's Birck Nanotechnology Center and the Robert and Anne Burnett Distinguished Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering. The technology hinges on using single photons – the tiny particles that make up light – for switching and routing in future computers that might harness the exotic principles of quantum mechanics. The quantum information processing technology would use structures called "metamaterials," artificial nanostructured media. The metamaterials, when combined with tiny optical emitters, could make possible a new hybrid technology that uses quantum light in future computers. Computers based on quantum physics would have quantum bits, or qubits, that exist in both the on and off states simultaneously, dramatically increasing the computer's power and memory. Quantum computers would take advantage of a strange phenomenon described by quantum theory called entanglement. Instead of only the states of one and zero, there are many possible entangled quantum states in between one and zero. "Other important quantum information applications include, for example, a quantum internet, secure information, quantum simulators, atomic clocks, ultra-powerful sensors, quantum cryptography and teleportation," Shalaev said.