Welcome to the CIBA Website

The Centre for Ion Beam Applications (CIBA) is a multi-disciplinary research centre, the goals of which are to develop new technologies based on fast protons and ions, and simultaneously to undertake research into novel applications where proton or ion based technologies provide a unique cutting edge. Because of the advantageous physical properties of protons (they behave like heavy electrons), proton technologies have the potential to supersede the ubiquitous electron based technologies (eg electron microscopy, electron lithography - ebeam writing, electron spectroscopy etc). We are currently the world leaders in 4 areas of proton technology: proton microscopy, proton beam writing (3D nano-fabrication), proton spectroscopy (high resolution Rutherford backscattering for materials studies), and proton beam modification of materials at the nanoscale.

CIBA is a large centre with heavy capital investment, comprising a central 3.5 million volt nuclear accelerator which provides ion beams for 5 advanced beam line facilities. Of the 5 CIBA beam lines, 3 are unique worldwide and have been developed at the NUS, and the other 2 are state-of-the-art. The NUS developed beam lines are the prototype proton beam writer (funded by MOE), the 2nd generation proton nano-writer (funded by USAF), and the advanced biomedical cell microscopy facility (funded by SBIC, ASTAR).

CIBA has 6 core members of staff, and over 30 members, not including a wide range of collaborators from within and outside the NUS: All core academic members of CIBA have considerable experience in ion beam/proton technology, and these core members are working with many cross disciplinary collaborators (both within and outside the NUS).

The CIBA core members, Assoc Prof Thomas Osipowicz (Director), Prof Frank Watt, Prof Mark Breese, Asst Prof Jeroen van Kan, Asst Prof Andrew Bettiol and Dr Chammika Udalagama, lead 5 major groups within CIBA. These five groups are addressing different areas of research, in which we believe proton technology can play an important strategic role.

These major areas are