IT STARTS HERE


vision and missile defense. After learning about the challenges of making infrared photodetectors, he set out to solve one of the problems: to create a photodetec- tor that could work at room temperature. He immersed himself in research over two summers. Bandyopadhyay’s dedica- tion to the problem, several days a week, resulted in four peer-reviewed journal publications (he is lead author of


two)


and a provisional U.S. patent for his dis- covery of a novel photodetector.


His research—under the mentorship of Dr. Gary C. Tepper, chair of the Department of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering at Virginia Commonwealth University, where Bandyopadhyay’s father, Supriyo, is Commonwealth Professor of Electrical


Engineering—led to a new capability: a universal photon and particle detector built with semiconductor nanowires that can operate at room temperature and detect the entire electromagnetic spectrum. Its infrared detectivity is at least 10 times higher than that of other state-of-the-art equipment.


Bandyopadhyay focused on making his detector ultrasensitive, rugged, reli- able, inexpensive and mass-producible. Potential applications include detection of buried mines, monitoring of global warming, radiation therapy and home- land security.


In all, Bandyopadhyay spent an esti- mated 1,600 hours on the project, all before his senior year. He immersed him- self in research starting in seventh grade, including several years at the U.S. Army Engineering Research and Development Center in Alexandria, VA, through an AEOP high school internship initiative, the Science and Engineering Appren- ticeship Program. He plans to major in electrical engineering and enter a career


74 Army AL&T Magazine January–March 2014


and Computer


HARD SCIENCE


Saumil Bandyopadhyay fabricates photodetectors in the Wright Virginia Microelectronics Center clean room at Virginia Commonwealth University during his high school years. Before he reached his senior year in high school, Bandyopadhyay spent an estimated 1,600 hours creating a photodetector that could work at room temperature. (Photo courtesy of Supriyo Bandyopadhyay)


SHARED EXPLORATION


A student explores other student research at the September 2103 closing ceremony for participants in the AEOP programs GEMS, SEAP and CQL, at Georgetown University in Washington, DC. (Photo courtesy of 100 Black Men of Greater Washington, DC)


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