Science Support Facilities

JILA hosts several specialized facilities specifically designed and staffed to advance and support JILA science. JILA's technical staff are highly collaborative and work individually with scientists on creative solutions and trouble-shooting.

Computing Services

JILA’s theoretical and experimental research relies on powerful computer simulations as well as digitized sensing and control. The JILA Computing Services Staff make sure that computers woes never falter our research goals. Our Computing Services Staff operate all JILA-based servers; help design, order and install computing equipment; and help install and license research-related software packages. 

Members of JILA’s research groups can consult computing services for quick troubleshooting and more.

Computing Services also runs two small computational clusters specifically designed to host Quantum Chemistry and Molecular Modeling software packages. And to assist JILA members using the CU supercomputer, our computing staff work closely with the University of Colorado's Research Computing Group. 

Computer user facilities at JILA include a computer lab, which houses Windows and Mac systems for general use, high-speed public printers and scanners, a professional-quality poster printer, and a desktop 3D printer.

Electronics Shop

Many experiments at JILA require custom, precision electronics. JILA’s Electronics Shop staff support our use of both custom and commercial electronics, and teach basic electronics to JILA students through hands-on instruction. JILA’s electrical engineers help design and construct analog and digital devices, and can help troubleshoot existing devices.  

In particular, our electronics shop staff specializes in advanced design of FPGA and related reprogrammable circuity, as well as low noise circuitry required for research specifications. Our staff offer customized solutions and on-site consulting as needed. To inquire about service availability, contact (email address).

The Electronics Shop maintains wide range of high-quality test equipment. This equipment, available for loan, includes oscilloscopes, spectrum analyzers, network analyzers, function generators, and most other common electrical test and measurement equipment. The shop also provides licenses for students to use Mentor Graphics PADS circuit capture and layout software. 

Electronics user facilities at JILA include a comprehensive storeroom, which is stocked with commonly used components such as resistors, capacitors, op-amps, and enclosures, as well as a workbench with soldering irons, power supplies and oscilloscopes.

Instrument Shop

JILA’s Instrument Makers design and fabricate a wide range of innovative and precise scientific instruments and provide individualized consultation to meet the specific research needs of JILA scientists. 

JILA’s instrument makers design and fabricate a wide range of innovative experimental apparatuses and provide individualized consultation to meet the specific research needs of JILA scientists. The instrument shop staff also teach students about shop equipment use and safety. To inquire about service availability, contact (email address).

The Instrument Shop staff collaborate with JILA researchers to create a variety of instruments for experiments, such as custom mounts, chambers, precision mechanical devices and more. To create these precision instruments, the Shop staff use Computer Number Controlled (CNC) vertical machining centers and mills, Hardringe Tool-Room lathes, and a variety of other grinders and saws.

Within the Instrument Shop is the JILA Special Techniques shop, which can work with nontraditional materials such as ceramics, glass, and fused silica to create vacuum cells, manifolds, glass to metal seals, and other custom glass parts. Additional capabilities include welding, lapping and polishing, ultrasonic milling, induction heating and brazing and more. Within the JILA cleaning room, parts can be anodized, chromate-conversion coated in aluminum, or cleaned for ultra-high vacuum compatibility.

Keck Lab

The Keck Lab encompasses the Metrology lab, which houses JILA’s shared optical measurement instruments and the fabrication lab (cleanroom). Though designed to support JILA research, the Keck lab is also available to other University of Colorado researchers and local industry. Contact and Reservations can be made through the Keck Lab webisite.

The Metrology lab, officially named the W. M. Keck Optical Measurement Laboratory, maintains optical measurement and characterization instruments. Instruments include atomic force microscope, beam profilers, optical microscopes and multimeters, oscilloscopes, polarimeters, spectrum analyzers, wavemeters, and much more. Instruments must be reserved prior to use and Lab staff can provide tutorials on instrument usage.

The fabrication lab, officially named the JILA Micro and Nanofabrication Facility, is a suite of Class 1000 (ISO 6) and Class 100 (ISO 5) cleanrooms for micro and nano fabrication. Tools within this facility include optical microscopes; PVD coating systems; scanning electron microscopes; PVD, spin, and sputter coating systems, a tube furnace, and much more.

Science Communications

JILA’s Science Communications Office (SCO) disseminates JILA’s research to a variety of audiences and train young scientists to do the same. 

SCO is responsible for the design, development and maintenance of all JILA websites, as well as website content updates such as new stories and announcements. Websites for JILA research groups, conferences, projects and outreach efforts can be developed upon request. SCO also maintains JILA’s social media accounts and can prepare scientists to speak with the media. 

To bring JILA’s research to a broader audience, SCO works with JILA researchers to prepare research highlights. These highlights are published on the JILA website and in the JILA Light & Matter quarterly publication. SCO also provides graphic design science illustration services upon request. These illustrations and animations can accompany presentations, papers, or journal cover submissions. 

And to improve the communication skills of our young scientists, SCO teaches workshops on Scientific Writing and Posters and Presentations.