Dr James McGilligan

Dr James McGilligan
Department of Physics
University of Strathclyde
107 Rottenrow East
Glasgow G4 0NG
United Kingdom
james.mcgilligan@strath.ac.uk
Office:  John Anderson 3.08l
Phone: (+44) 141 548 5325/5322
Fax:      (+44) 141 552 2891		 Research:


Quantum Technologies

Bio

I did my PhD in the EQOP group at the University of Strathclyde on the development of grating magneto-optical traps as a foundation for a compact, cold-atom clock. Following the completion of my PhD in 2017, I was awarded a Lindemann Fellowship to work at the National Institute of Standards and Technology in Boulder, Colorado in the Atomic Devices, and Instrumentation team. My two-year postdoc focussed on the development of chip-scale cold-atom vacuum cells with simultaneous studies into demonstrating alkali-ion batteries as a viable source of alkali density regulation in portable cold-atom systems.
Following my postdoctoral research, I joined Kelvin Nanotechnology in 2019 as a Quantum Technologist. My position involved managing projects in cold-atom clocks, optically-pumped magnetometers, and micro-fabricated components to aid the miniaturisation of atomic quantum technologies.
I returned to the University of Strathclyde in 2021 as a Royal Academy of Engineering Research Fellow to pursue the micro-fabrication of chip-scale atomic platforms for quantum navigation, covering research topics in atomic clocks and wavelength references with an emphasis on scalable and mass-producible sensors. In 2022, I was appointed as a Chancellors Fellow at the University of Strathclyde.

International Network

Currently I am the principal investigator of the International Network for Micro-fabricated Atomic Quantum Sensors (INMAQS). The INMAQS network is a dedicated platform for global collaboration and technological development that places an emphasis on research fields of Physics and Engineering.

This network brings together international expertise on quantum physics and micro-engineering to oversee the development of next generation miniaturised quantum sensors, specifically for portable atomic clocks and magnetometers. The broad aim is to target the development and integration of diverse technologies, that will raise the technology readiness of quantum sensors and their individual components and ultimately advance our quantum capabilities. With this in mind, we envisage that the technological platform developed within this network will ultimately grow to incorporate a wider range of quantum sensors for electric fields, thermometry, and wavelength referencing.

For more information, please visit inmaqs.ac.uk

Publications

Details at Google Scholar.

  • S. Ingleby & J. P. McGilligan, Can the micro-fabrication of atomic and optical components open new capabilities in quantum technologies?, Research Directions: Quantum Technologies 1, e1 (2022).
  • S. Dyer, P. F. Griffin, A. S. Arnold, F. Mirando, D. P. Burt, E. Riis & J. P. McGilligan, Micro-machined deep silicon atomic vapor cells, Journal of Applied Physics 132, 134401 (2022).
  • J. P. McGilligan, K. Gallacher, P. F. Griffin, D. J. Paul, A. S. Arnold, & E. Riis, Micro-fabricated components for cold atom sensors, Rev. Sci. Instrum. 93, 091101 (2022).
  • A. Bregazzi, P.F. Griffin, A.S. Arnold, D.P. Burt, G. Martinez, R. Boudot, J. Kitching, E. Riis & J.P. McGilligan, A simple imaging solution for chip-scale laser cooling, Appl. Phys. Lett. 119, 184002 (2021).
  • R. Boudot, J.P. McGilligan, K.R. Moore, V. Maurice, G.D. Martinez, A. Hansen, E. de Clercq & J. Kitching, Enhanced observation time of magneto-optical traps using micro-machined non-evaporable getter pumps, Sci. Rep. 10, 16590 (2020).
  • J.P. McGilligan, K.R. Moore, A. Dellis, G.D. Martinez, E. de Clercq, P.F. Griffin, A.S. Arnold, E. Riis, R. Boudot & J. Kitching, Laser cooling in a chip-scale platform, Appl. Phys. Lett. 117, 054001 (2020).
  • J.P. McGilligan, K.R. Moore, S. Kang, R. Mott, A. Mis, C. Roper, E.A. Donley & J. Kitching, Dynamic characterization of an alkali-ion battery as a source for laser-cooled atoms, Phys. Rev. Appl. 13, 044038 (2020).
  • R. Elvin, G.W. Hoth, M. Wright, B. Lewis, J.P. McGilligan, A.S. Arnold, P.F. Griffin & E. Riis, Cold-atom clock based on a diffractive optic, Opt. Express 27, 38359-38366 (2019).
  • S. Kang, K.R. Moore, J.P. McGilligan, R. Mott, A. Mis, C. Roper, E.A. Donley & J. Kitching, Magneto-optic trap using a reversible, solid-state alkali-metal source, Opt. Lett. 44, 3002-3005 (2019).
  • J.P. McGilligan, P.F. Griffin, R. Elvin, S.J. Ingleby, E. Riis & A.S. Arnold, Grating chips for quantum technologies, Sci. Rep. 7, 384 (2017).
  • J.P. McGilligan, P.F. Griffin, E. Riis & A.S. Arnold, Diffraction-grating characterization for cold-atom experiments, JOSAB 33, 1271-1277 (2016).
  • J.P. Cotter, J.P. McGilligan, P.F. Griffin, I.M. Rabey, K. Docherty, E. Riis, A.S. Arnold & E.A. Hinds, Design and fabrication of diffractive atom chips for laser cooling and trapping, Appl. Phys. B 122,172 (2016).
  • J.P. McGilligan, P.F. Griffin, E. Riis & A.S. Arnold, Phase-space properties of magneto-optical traps utilising micro-fabricated gratings, Opt. Express 23, 8948 (2015).