SMA was invited to attend a technology review of work underway at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) related to power electronics. On November 6 and 7, 2013 fourteen individuals from PSMA member companies or PSMA technical committees participated in a technology review presented by five researchers from LANL. Topics included 3-D packaging, fuel cell technologies and portable power, solid state technology, neutral beam lithography and epitaxy related to GaN and InGaN deposition and light emitting diodes.

The meetings were conducted in a workshop environment with time allowed for questions and interactions between the scientists and PSMA participants. The discussions were spirited and focused on possible applications and the potential for the technologies discussed. The group also was taken on a technical tour of the National High Magnetics Field Lab and visited the Bradbury Science museum.

PSMA attendees and some representatives from LANL continued their discussion Wednesday evening over dinner at the Red Sage Restaurant in the Hilton Hotel, Santa Fe.

The meetings concluded on Thursday with an in-depth discussion on how PSMA member companies could partner with LANL and reviewed possible partnering mechanisms. The Association Office will interface with LANL to invite their participation in APEC and contributing to the PSMA technical committees.

Because of the variety of activities at LANL the topics discussed on the visit represented only a small part of the research being done at the facility. Both the PSMA participants and LANL representatives agreed that the review and discussions were very worthwhile and that another meeting should be scheduled to cover other topics and include other interested PSMA member companies.

LANL is a scientific research laboratory that primarily focuses on national security. The laboratory was established in 1943 as part of the Manhattan Project – the nation’s top secret program to develop the atomic bomb. Currently the laboratory conducts leading –edge research in many areas of science and technology to help solve national problems related to energy, the environment, infrastructure and health.

LANL is located 35 miles north west of Santa Fe NM on 38 square miles of property. There are more than 2,000 individual facilities including 47 technical areas with over 8 million square feet under roof. LANL has over 10,000 employees and a budget of approximately $2.2 billion in 2012.

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