OTTAWA, Ontario, March 13 -- Carleton University researchers have banded together to form a multidisciplinary photonics research team called the Carleton Photonics Group. Headed by John Armitage, chairman of the physics department, it is made up of 15 researchers from the faculties of engineering and science whose aim is to raise the profile of photonics at Carleton and to facilitate photonics projects. The 15 members are from the departments of electronics, systems engineering, mathematics, physics and chemistry. Although they don't directly focus in photonics, other university departments -- such as biology, mechanical and aerospace engineering and neuroscience -- do conduct research with a photonics thrust. There are four major laboratory facilities on campus: an optical networking laboratory, a microelectronics fabrication facility, an advanced materials research laboratory and a magnetic resonance facility. "This initiative is a great example of how we like to do things at Carleton University -- cooperatively," said Feridun Hamdullahpur, vice president/research at Carleton. "As the leading source of highly skilled graduates to the high-tech community, we have developed a strong partnership with the photonics research community."