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Research

Research

The Engineering and Design Core Facility (EDCF) serves faculty, staff, and student researchers across multiple disciplines. See highlights of research projects the facility has supported below:

DEIMOS

University of Notre Dame and Caltech Optical Observatories

As the most versatile instrument at Keck II Observatory, DEIMOS has contributed to nearly 1,000 refereed publications. Notre Dame collaborated with Caltech to replace the cryostat, modernize the flexure compensation system, and upgrade the detectors and electronics to maintain state-of-the-art quantum efficiency.

Skills: Mechanical, Electrical

Complex gold cylindrical scientific apparatus with grey attachments and a purple base.

Finite element analysis (FEA) simulation of a blue curved mechanical part, showing a green stress concentration and legend.

Black segmented mechanical rings and white curved inserts, some assembled, some individual components on display.

Smiling man in white cleanroom suit crouches beside a large, dark scientific instrument in a red-lit lab.

Mach 6 Wind Tunnel

University of Notre Dame and the Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR)

Notre Dame helped develop the Large Mach 6 Quiet Hypersonic Wind Tunnel with the Air Force Office for Scientific Research to advance the science of hypersonic vehicles. The EDCF created the detailed mechanical design of the converging/diverging nozzle assembly.

Skills: Mechanical

Scientist in lab coat inspects a long, green spiraled scientific apparatus with orange and grey components in a lab.

Finite element mesh displays UZG values from red (high) to blue (low) across an L-shaped domain with a central barrier.

Large metallic pipe system on orange supports with a white 'UZG' control box, red/yellow indicator lights, and blue pipes.

Large silver Mach 6 quiet tunnel machinery on an orange base. A blue banner states "AFOSR - Notre Dame Large Mach 6 Quiet Tunnel."

Thermal Grill

University of Notre Dame Researchers

The Thermal Grill device was built for the Psychology department to demonstrate a sensory illusion. The device regulates the temperature of alternating copper bars. When all bars are at 20ºC, they feel cool. When all bars are at 40ºC, they feel warm. For some people, when the temperatures of the bars are interlaced at 20ºC and 40ºC, they feel pain. Temperatures that normally feel warm or cool feel painful when the temperature of the bars is alternating. The EDCF provided the simplified, standalone design, and prototyped four of the devices.

Skills: Mechanical, Electrical

Blue rectangular device with copper fins on top, showing two digital readouts and connected black wires.

Blue electronic enclosure with circuit boards, fans, and its corresponding Thermal Grill circuit diagram.

Blue lab device, two displays show 40.1. Attention, Memory, and Perception (AMP) Lab, Corbett Family Hall.

Four blue rectangular devices display '20.C' on a lab workbench with connecting cables.

Solenoid Spectrometer for Nuclear Astrophysics and Decays (SSNAPD)

University of Notre Dame and the National Science Foundation

Designed to conduct nearly background-free evaluations of branching ratios for particle decay, SSNAPD is a novel charged-particle detector array. Notre Dame developed this system using segmented silicon strip detectors within a large-bore solenoid magnetic field to prioritize the detection of low-energy particles for research into explosive nucleosynthesis.

Skills: Mechanical, Electrical

Sleek, white experimental chamber open, revealing internal metallic rods and discs within a lab.

Two views: a 3D render of a long gray linear sensor track, and a close-up of a cylindrical object on circuitry inside.

Scientific instrument with two large, curved brass plates, a central metallic rectangular bar, on a dark lab bench.

Large silver rectangular metal casing with cutouts, positioned on an assembly track in a manufacturing facility.

Nonlinear-Curvature Wavefront Sensor

University of Notre Dame Researchers

To mitigate the light wave distortion caused by Earth’s atmosphere, Notre Dame is developing a novel sensor that excels in highly turbulent environments. The EDCF provided optomechanical design and real-time computing support to reduce the system's physical footprint and enhance phase retrieval speeds for high-frequency operations exceeding 1kHz.

Skills: Electrical, Software, Optical

Complex optical experiment with numerous silver and white components arranged on a black breadboard. Red light present.

Transparent 3D CAD model of a complex rectangular device with internal angled components and circular vents.

Diagonal split shows circuit block diagram and colorful yellow, teal, and magenta integrated circuit layout.

Four plots compare ACAP and Matlab E-field (blue-yellow) and Phase (cyan-orange) data, showing circular patterns.

iLocater

University of Notre Dame

As a pioneering extreme-precision radial velocity instrument, iLocater aims to identify Earth-sized exoplanets using an infrared spectrograph and a specialized acquisition camera at the Large Binocular Observatory. The EDCF provided comprehensive support across the project's development cycle, delivering critical mechanical, electrical, and software engineering expertise to ensure the system achieves sub-milli-Kelvin cryogenic stability.

Skills: Mechanical, Electrical, Software

Inside an open blue technical cabinet displaying intricate circuit boards, wires, and optical components.

CAD rendering of a mechanical assembly on a perforated silver plate. Features a central rotating platform and extending arm.

Open red electronics case displaying internal yellow power supply, green circuit boards, and gray data cables.

System architecture diagram illustrating the INDI Protocol's role in connecting UI, REST API, Python, servers, and devices.

Gemini Planet Imager (GPI2.0)

University of Notre Dame and the Gemini Observatory

As a facility-class instrument optimized for the direct imaging and spectroscopic characterization of Jupiter-mass exoplanets, GPI is undergoing a significant relocation and modernization. Notre Dame is collaborating with multiple institutions on the GPI2.0 upgrade to integrate new scientific capabilities at Gemini North. The EDCF is providing critical mechanical, electrical, and systems engineering support to facilitate this complex instrumentation overhaul.

Skills: Mechanical, Electrical, Software, Optical

Two technical diagrams: an external view of a grey module with green and blue components, and a detailed internal view of a blue housing.

Close-up of stainless steel pipes, blue-banded connectors, and a blue sensor with black tubing in a complex system.

White electronic equipment, top open, showing circuit boards, gold module, blue wires. Labeled multi-pin connectors on front.

Three rectangular optical modules in metallic frames show vibrant green, purple, and yellow reflections in a lab setup.

EMPHATIC Positioning Table

University of Notre Dame and Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory

To enable critical nuclear interaction measurements for Phase 2 of the EMPHATIC neutrino experiment, the University of Notre Dame designed and engineered a custom, 800-pound precision motion table capable of accurately translating a small-aperture spectrometer across the face of a particle focusing horn. Notre Dame’s modular 80/20 aluminum construct is divided into four integrated assemblies—platform, lifting, base, and floor—and utilizes a dual-servo motor system to drive precise two-axis movement via four coordinated vertical screw jacks and floor-mounted horizontal V-groove rails. Featuring customizable threaded aluminum breadboards for flexible component layout alongside integrated polycarbonate safety guards, this Notre Dame-developed apparatus provides the rigid stability and fine position control required to capture first-ever measurements of charged particles exiting the horn.

Skills: Mechanical, Electrical