Dr. A.A. Berezin

Professor Emeritus
Department of Engineering Physics

McMaster University
1280 Main Street West, Hamilton
Ontario, Canada  L8S 4L7

office: BSB/B106
email:  berezin@mcmaster.ca
voice:  (905) 525-9140 x 24546
fax: (905) 527-8409

B.Sc., M.Sc., Ph.D. (Leningrad State Univ.)

Research Interests

Non-thermal Plasmas for Pollution Control and Electrostatic Precipitation

Plasma is a state of gaseous matter having high concentration of charged particles (electrons and ions). This results in a high chemical reactivity of plasmas which can be used for the disintegration of gaseous pollutants such as VOC(volatile organic compounds). We study fundamental and technological aspects of plasma processes involved in the removal of air pollutants. This involves a combination of chemical decomposition using non-thermal plasma discharge, formation of aerosol particles and their removal from air streams.

Plasma Processing of New Materials

Plasma processing technique has become one of the leading tools for the semiconductor electronics industry. As a complement to other technologies, the plasma processing allows a well-controlled and economically attractive method of depositing electronically active thin films as well as support elements (substrates, contacts, etc.).

Engineering Implications of Quantum and Non-linear Physics

Many latest advances in physics have long-range and diversified engineering facets. Interesting recent developments have occurred both on the side of quantum physics (quantum non-localities, Bell's theorem, macroscopic quantum tunneling, etc.) and classical non-linear physics (chaos, fractals, spontaneous pattern formation, self-organization, etc.). These and other similar developments are of crucial importance for the "next generation" of emerging information and communication principles and for the interactive integration of technological and human domains. The projects for independent theoretical graduate studies can be drawn from the following, inevitably incomplete list of our current interests.

Electronic tunneling and hopping conductivity in nanoscale structures and electronic devices. Applications of chaos physics and self-organization for nanoscale quantum electronics. Quantum limitations of VLST electronics and noise aspects of quantum communication channels. Fundamental and engineering aspects of isotopic diversity.

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Publications

D. Brocilo, J.S. Chang, R. Godard, and A.A. Berezin, "Numerical Modelling of Wire-Pipe Electrostatic Precipitator for Control of Fine Particulates", J. of Aerosol Science, 30, suppl. 1, S855-S856 (1999).

 A. Zukeran, P.C. Looy, A. Chakrabarti, A.A. Berezin, S. Jayaram, J. Cross, T. Ito, and J.S. Chang, "Collection Efficiency of Ultarfine Particles by an Electrostatic Precipitator under DC and Pulse Operating Modes", IEEE Transactions on Industry Applications, Vol. 35, No. 5, September/October 1999, pp. 1184-1191.

H. Kohno, A.A. Berezin, J.S. Chang, M. Tamura, T. Yamamoto, A. Shibuya, and S. Honda, "Destruction of Volatile Organic Compounds Used in a Semiconductor Industry by a Capillary Tube Discharge Reactor," IEEE Trans. on Industry Applications, 34, No. 5, 953-966 (1998).

K.L.L. Vercammen, A.A. Berezin, F. Lox, and J.S. Chang, "Non-Thermal Plasma Techniques for the Reduction of Volatile Organic Compounds in Air Streams", J. of Advanced Oxidation Technologies, 2(2), 312-329 (1997).

A.A. Berezin, "Coulomb Correlation Effects and Pattern Formation in Electrostatic Systems with Multistabilities and Breakdown", Journal of Electrostatics, 40 & 41, 79-84 (1997).

T. Yamamoto, J.S. Chang, A.A. Berezin, H. Kohno, S. Honda and A. Shibuya, "Decomposition of Toluene, o-Xylene, Trichloroethylene and Their Mixture Using a BaTiO3 Packed-Bed Plasma Reactor", J. Of Advanced Oxidation Technology 1, 67-78 (1996).