We are always on the lookout for high-quality PhD students or postdoctoral researchers to work within the research groups here within the Experimental Quantum Optics and Photonics Group.
Current 2023 PhD opportunities:
- Advancing the stability and accuracy of a laser-cooled microwave atomic clock (Experiment; contact Dr Paul Griffin & Prof Erling Riis)
- Two-photon spectroscopy of rubidium for an optical atomic clock (Experiment; contact Dr Paul Griffin & Prof Erling Riis)
- Atom-interferometry in optical waveguides for next-generation gyroscopes (Experiment; contact Dr Paul Griffin & Prof Erling Riis)
- Micro-fabricated components for optical metrology (Experiment; contact Dr James McGilligan & Dr Paul Griffin)
- Optical-atomic magnetometry using alkali-spin maser techniques for geophysical magnetic sensing (Experiment; contact Dr Stuart Ingleby & Prof Erling Riis)
- SI-traceable atomic thermometry (Experiment; contact Dr Aidan Arnold & Prof Erling Riis)
PhD Studentships
PhD students typically begin in October, however applications are accepted throughout the year. Students will join a vibrant cohort of over 30 students working on both fundamental and applied quantum technologies and receive focused graduate training in experimental atomic physics and quantum optics.
Students (including non-European students) with an excellent track record can apply for a SUPA prize PhD studentship with us and other PhD scholarship options at Strathclyde are shown here. Below, we give details of current fully-funded projects available. If you would like to know more about the projects in a given area or to work in something not listed below, please email the relevant member of academic staff for details.
Available studentships
The available projects listed below are fully-funded for the October intake; however, there is some flexibility for a deferred start. Please contact the named academic supervisor for information.
Compact Laser Systems For Quantum Technologies
Translating quantum tech out of the lab places stringent requirements on new components and sub-systems. This studentship aims to advance the state-of-the-art in compact laser systems with integrated frequency and amplitude control. The focus will be on technical assessment of requirements and integration of internal atomic reference in order to realise robust, miniaturised devices for use in e.g. quantum- enabled position, navigation and timing systems. The project is jointly with EQOP and Alter UK’s Photonics Design Centre based on the Strathclyde Campus.
Industry Partner: Alter Technologies UK (formerly Optocap),
Contact Dr Paul Griffin – paul.griffin@strath.ac.uk
Ultra-precise atomic magnetometry for unshielded measurements
Contact Prof Erling Riis – e.riis@strath.ac.uk or Dr Stuart Ingleby – stuart.ingleby@strath.ac.uk
Scalable Qubit Arrays for Quantum Computation and Optimisation
Quantum computation offers a revolutionary approach to information processing, providing a route to efficiently solve classically hard problems such as factorisation and optimisation as well as unlocking new applications in material science and quantum chemistry that could in future be scaled up to accelerate drug design or optimised materials for aerospace and manufacturing. Whilst large-scale applications will require thousands of qubits, in the near-term small (100 qubit) quantum processors will reach a regime in which the quantum hardware is able to solve problems not accessible even on the largest available conventional supercomputers.
This project will develop a new platform for quantum computing based on scalable arrays of neutral atoms that is able to overcome the challenges to scaling of competing technologies. We will develop new hardware to cool and trap arrays of over 100 qubits that will be used to perform both analogue and digital quantum simulation by exploiting the strong long-range interactions of highly excited Rydberg atoms. Together with the quantum software team lead by Prof. Andrew Daley, we will design new analogue and digital algorithms tailored for the neutral-atom platform to target industrially-relevant computation and optimisation problems.
Contact Dr Jonathan Pritchard – jonathan.pritchard@strath.ac.uk
Compact, laser-cooled atomic clocks
Atomic clocks are a shining example of the power that technology based on atomic physics can have. In the last decades, using atoms laser cooled to the microKelvin regime, the sensitivity of atomic clocks has increase to now being better than one second over the age of the universe. This project, a key node in the UK Quantum Technologies Hubs, is focussed on the development of an atomic clock in a compact and robust package, utilising holographic grating-MOT technique developed in our group at Strathclyde. The resulting device will challenge current state-of-the-art in commercial atomic clocks in cost, size, and stability. The successful candidate will gain cutting edge experience in atomic physics, lasers, optics, and vacuum technology.
Contact Dr Paul Griffin – paul.griffin@strath.ac.uk
Atom-interferometry for inertial sensing of rotation
No funded positions are available at present.
If you have a separate source of funding then please do contact supervisors below.
The possibility of using interference of coherent matter-waves offer tantalising levels of potential accuracy for measurement devices. A particular application of interest is that of rotation sensing with applications in quantum-based, autonomous navigation devices. The student will join an research programmes in BEC interferometry at Strathclyde in the development of a Bose-Einstein condensate atom interferometer device. A key aim is the demonstration of an integrated optics and BEC interferometry. This project would ultimately inform the translation of chip-based BEC technology into a practical navigation tool.
Contact Dr Aidan Arnold – aidan.arnold@strath.ac.uk or Dr Paul Griffin – paul.griffin@strath.ac.uk
Ultracold atoms in an optical lattice
In this project the student will work on a quantum-gas microscope which allows us to image fermionic potassium atom by atom, lattice site by lattice site. This exciting new tool will open the path to the study of strongly correlated fermionic quantum systems in optical lattices with unprecedented insight into their local properties.
Contact Prof. Stefan Kuhr – stefan.kuhr@strath.ac.uk
Industrial PhD Studentships
Alongside our standard academic studentships, we have a number of exclusive industrial PhD studentships offering the unique opportunity to work embedded within an industrial innovation team working to take cutting edge research in quantum technologies out of the lab environment. Students will be assigned academic supervisors but will work on-site with the industry partners, whilst benefiting from the same training and mentoring opportunities offered through the International Quantum Technologies Graduate School (IGSCQT) as our students based on campus. Below, we give details of current fully-funded projects available. If you would like to know more about the projects in a given area or to work in something not listed below, please email the relevant member of academic staff for details.
Available industrial studentships
The available projects listed below are fully-funded for the October 2022 intake, however there is some flexibility for a deferred start. Please contact the named academic supervisor for information.
Compact Laser Systems For Quantum Technologies
Industry Partner: Alter Technologies UK (formerly Optocap),
As part of Alter UK’s Photonics Design Centre based on the Strathclyde Campus projects are available to develop lasers with integrated frequency and amplitude control. Focus will be on technical assessment of requirements and integration of internal atomic reference in order to realise robust, miniaturised devices for use in e.g. quantum- enabled position, navigation and timing systems. (Position jointly with Alter UK and Strathclyde)
Company info: https://wpo-altertechnology.com/optocap/
Contact Dr Paul Griffin – paul.griffin@strath.ac.uk
Vapour cells for spectroscopy
Industry Partner: Emerson (Cascade Technologies), Stirling
Vapour cells are used in spectroscopic instruments and gas analysers for validation or calibration and for stabilisation. Cascade Technologies has an interest in all of these methods and is particularly interested in developing inexpensive vapour cells for gases with spectral features in the NIR and MIR wavelength regions. The Experimental Quantum Optics & Photonics Group at Strathclyde University have built up expertise in a process known as anodic bonding which has great potential for inexpensive, scalable manufacturing of spectroscopic vapour cells. The student will develop an understanding of state of the art manufacturing and assembly methods for anodic bonding, and will undertake research into extending current methods into those areas most relevant to the company’s needs. The student will be part of a multidiscipline team working on the development of some of the most advanced gas analysers in the world.
Company Info: https://www.emerson.com/en-gb/automation/measurement-instrumentation/gas-analysis/about-quantum-cascade-laser-analyzers
Contact Prof. Erling Riis – e.riis@strath.ac.uk
Engineering technologies for scalable quantum computing
Industry Partner: M Squared Lasers
Quantum computation offers a revolutionary approach to information processing, providing a route to efficiently solve classically hard problems such as factorisation and optimisation as well as unlocking new applications in material science and quantum chemistry. This project will advance critical hardware components for atomic quantum computing platforms at the interface of academia and industry, focusing on the development of advanced low-noise laser systems for high-fidelity state preparation, qubit control and readout alongside engineering routes to enable future scaling from 100s to 1000s of qubits.
The M Squared Lasers flagship product SolsTiS, a solid-state laser that is class-leading in multiple sectors but significantly, has been adopted as the photonics backbone of choice for many quantum technologies covering frontier research to commercially deployed quantum computers. This source is one of the most crucial underpinning technologies enabling the scaling of the atomic quantum computer hardware to the point where it will be able to solve problems not accessible even on the largest available conventional supercomputers.
Company Info: www.m2lasers.com
Contact Dr Jonathan Pritchard – jonathan.pritchard@strath.ac.uk
Postdoctoral researcher vacancies
We are always keen to recruit motivated post-doctoral researchers and typically have funding available for excellent candidates. Current vacancies are listed below, however if you don’t see a vacancy for the research project you are interested in please contact the lead academic for information on current and future opportunities to join our teams.
Research Associate in Experimental Quantum Computing
Quantum computation offers a revolutionary approach to information processing, providing a route to efficiently solve classically hard problems such as factorisation and optimisation as well as unlocking new applications in material science and quantum chemistry that could in future be scaled up to accelerate drug design or optimised materials for aerospace and manufacturing. Whilst large-scale applications will require thousands of qubits, in the near-term small (100 qubit) quantum processors will reach a regime in which the quantum hardware is able to solve problems not accessible even on the largest available conventional supercomputers.
Applications are invited for a postdoctoral research associate to work on a new project to establish a novel platform for quantum computing based on scalable arrays of neutral atoms as part of an EPSRC Prosperity Partnership with M Squared Lasers. Together, we will develop new hardware to cool and trap arrays of over 100 qubits that will be used to perform both analogue and digital quantum simulation by exploiting the strong long-range interactions of highly excited Rydberg atoms.
We are seeking highly a motivated experimental researcher who will be responsible for the design and construction of the experimental platform, as well as benchmarking new techniques and protocols for implementing quantum algorithms targeting industrially relevant problems ranging from optimisation to quantum chemistry.
The successful applicant will be based in the Department of Physics under the supervision of Dr. Jonathan Pritchard, an EPSRC Quantum Technology Fellow, within the Experimental Quantum Optics and Photonics group at Strathclyde, working in collaboration with researchers developing quantum software and algorithms targeted to the neutral atom platform lead by Andrew Daley. Candidates will have a PhD (or close to completion) in experimental atomic physics, quantum computing or have equivalent experience. Technical knowledge of electronics, lasers, vacuum systems and data analysis would be of advantage. An ability to prepare scientific publications and present research outcomes at local, national and international research meetings is expected. For more information contact jonathan.pritchard@strath.ac.uk.