As the size of a crystalline matter decreases below a critical value, the matter start to display properties that are drastically different from its bulk properties. This critical size is that of electrons' and holes' orbitals in a bulk material, and the properties are those described by quantum mechanics - confinement of carriers, and light emission at a color which is defined by the size of a given quantum structure.

Using the results from my previous and current projects I will describe applications of quantum materials in two branches of science and technology: all-optical switching, and multimodal medical imaging.

In the first part of my talk I will describe how the stringent requirements on data format in optical networks, as well as the need for multiple costly electro-optical conversions, could be alleviated with a family of all-optical nonlinear periodic devices. Following brief outline of devices' operation, I will discuss the progress towards fabrication of device prototypes with emphasis on constituent materials characterization and fabrication on multidimensional periodic structures.

In the second part of my talk I will focus on discussing how photo-excitable properties of semiconductor and metallic quantum dots can be used to improve the characterization of and navigation through chronic total occlusions in coronary and peripheral arteries. I will describe where do these nanotechnology projects fit into a larger scope of multidisciplinary research on chronic total occlusions, showing how the imaging modalities of Magnetic Resonance, x-ray, ultrasound, optics, and histology complement each other in this dynamic project.

The projects that I will describe have been carried out in collaboration with research groups of Professor Edward Sargent, Professor John Rowlands, Department of Chemistry at the University of Toronto, Department of Mathematics at the McMaster University, Sunnybrook and Women's Research Institute, University Health Network, and a number of industrial sponsors including Nortel Networks and General Electric Medical Systems.

Dr. Lukasz Brzozowski, received his Ph.D. from the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Toronto in 2003, and Honours Bachelor of Science from the U of T's Physics and Mathematics Departments in 1999. He was awarded the Governor General's Academic Gold Medal for the best Ph.D. in engineering and applied science from the University of Toronto in 2003.

Dr. Brzozowski's graduate work which was conducted under Prof. Edward H. Sargent's supervision has resulted in 30 engineering and scientific publications and conference presentations, four co-supervised undergraduate and graduate theses, eight invited talks, a book chapter for the Handbook of Electronic and Optoelectronic Materials, and two patents sponsored by Nortel Networks. As of August 2004, 80 journal papers have been published in peer-reviewed journals, which cite Dr. Brzozowski's work while he was a doctoral student between 2000 and 2004.

Dr. Brzozowski is currently applying his skills to a number of projects at Sunnybrook and Women's Research Institute. His main research interests include the integration of magnetic resonance and x-ray modalities in a single imaging system, and the application of photo-excitable properties of semiconductor and metallic quantum dots to facilitate safe debulking and characterization of chronic total occlusions in coronary and peripheral arteries.