During the last 50 years, physical sciences research at Bell Labs has played a crucial role in enabling modern communication networks through the creation of much of its physical layer materials and components infrastructure. Similarly, the impact on the scientific community at large during the same period has been unparalleled in research fields such as condensed matter physics, materials, solid-state electronics and photonics.

While a substantial part of our research is associated with the physical layer of the network, we have an increasing presence at the system level, where, in recent years, we have been making significant contributions synergistic with those of other centers.

Throughout our history, our main technical mission has not changed: to perform world-class research in support of communication technologies, in particular its physical, materials and device foundations. The outlook is typically five to 20 years out.

In pursuit of our mission, we maintain close ties to the international community of scientists, make significant contributions in defining the present and future research agenda in selected areas, and hold influential roles in leading technical societies.

Three of the Nobel Prize winners in Physics in the last seven years did their prize-winning work at Bell Labs, and our scientists continue to win top prizes such as the Buckley prize of the American Physical Society, and the Max Born Award and the Robert Wood Prize of the Optical Society of America. Bell Labs recognizes that true innovation is performed by intellectual leaders recognized by their community of peers.

Some areas of focus for this center include:

• Nanotechnology research, which will play an important role in realizing the vision of a seamless always-on, always-connected, broadband mobile global communications network.  Some of the research thrusts in nanotechnology include a "design team" that is focused on microsystems and nanotechnology innovations, and a “fabrication team” that develops novel processes to realize these innovations.  Nanotechnolgy researchers partner with other groups within Bell Labs (e.g., Mathematics, Computing Sciences, Optical Networking, Wireless Networking, Government Communications), with Alcatel-Lucent’s product units, with government agencies, with third-party commercial entities, and with universities to drive both visionary fundamental scientific investigations as well as applied technology and product development. 
  
  Using funding initially provided by the New Jersey Economic Development Authority, the New Jersey Nanotechnology Consortium (NJNC) conducts collaborative research with a wide variety of groups and organizations in the state of New Jersey, including the New Jersey Institute of Technology, Rutgers University, the State University of New Jersey, and the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. 
  
  
• Another area of focus in the Enabling Physical Technologies Research Center is device physics, which lays the groundwork for the electronic and photonic devices that will enable next generation communication networks. There are three main thrust areas here: optical devices, molecular electronics, and quantum devices.  In optical devices, the team seeks to advance the boundaries of understanding about the interaction of light with matter at both the materials and the device level. In molecular electronics, the focus is on developing the physics behind novel devices that employ the small size and unique functionality of individual molecules. In quantum devices, Bell Labs researchers seek to understand the quantum mechanical nature of matter, and are using the world’s purest metals - fabricated in house - to understand and control the quantum wavefunctions of electrons confined to two dimensions. 
  
  
• The center also develops optical technologies to deliver innovations in integrated optical components. Facilities/capabilities include optical design and characterization, optical component prototyping (SLIMLine clean room), advanced assembly and packaging, and thermal management.
  
  
• Materials research, the final area of focus for this center, provides the foundation for all of the center’s other activities. Teams focus on the design, synthesis and characterization of new materials that exhibit novel electronic and photonic properties. Research is conducted in a highly multidisciplinary environment that couples fundamental materials chemistry and physics research with device design and material processing design and integration. Studies include many classes of materials, including organics, oxides, semiconductors, and metals.