Ultra-high-resolution emission and absorption spectroscopy of non-equilibrium and highly-reactive plasmas applied to complex materials processing

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Since 2008, the applicant has been leading at U. Montréal an ambitious research program on the physics of non--equilibrium and highly-reactive plasmas applied to complex materials processing. Since 2016, he also holds a Canada Research Chair (PPHARE). In this context, he wishes to acquire a new plasma spectroscopy tool that is highly complementary to those already available in his laboratories but specifically adapted for multiscale and multiphase analysis of the physics and chemistry driving non-equilibrium plasmas at low and atmospheric pressure. More specifically, the system consists of an ultra-high-resolution optical spectrometer recently developed by a Canadian company, LightMachinery Inc. This Hyperfine system offers an outstanding spectral resolution: ~100x better than spectrometers of comparable sizes, ~20x better than actual state-of-the-art spectrometers. This system takes advantage of the two dimensions of the optical detector: the wavelengths are first coarsely separated in the x-direction using a conventional ruled grating and then finely separated in the y-direction using a virtually imaged phased array (VIPA), a device patented and manufactured by LightMachinery Inc. Since this Hyperfine spectrometer was never used for plasma studies, the applicant is convinced that, given his well--established expertise in plasma spectroscopy, he is in a unique position to realize breakthrough studies in plasma science with potentially very high technological impact in complex materials processing. He also believes that if the research capabilities of the new system developed in Canada are not rapidly tackled by Canadians, these innovative and pioneering plasma spectroscopy studies will be performed by other world--class laboratories elsewhere in the world. The HyperFine system will also progressively replace in a very cost-effective way a very-old, 1-m-focal-length Czerny-Turner spectrometer. Obtained in 2008 in the junk of McGill collaborators, this tool is no longer supported by any companies and is very close to its end-of-life (hardware and software). In the short term, the Hyperfine system will be fully utilized by the applicant' research team (4 M.Sc. students, 5 Ph.D. students, and 2 PDFs). It will also be used by other team members of the Plasma Physics Group at U. Montréal, in particular by the personnel of profs. Hamdan, Margot, and Moisan. In order to maximize the degree of utilization, the Hyperfine system will be placed on a moving table to ensure rapid and efficient displacement from one plasma reactor to the other. For several years now, the applicant has been adopting practices that promote equity, equality, diversity, and inclusion in all of his recruiting and research activities in order to enhance the excellence of his training and his research in plasma science and engineering. In this respect, he stands out remarkably in his discipline (physics) with, for example, a significant number of women and visible minorities.