Magnetic microscopy with Bose-Einstein condensates (2018)

What you get

You will receive:

• fully-funded tuition fees for 3 and a half years (at the UK/EU rate)
• a tax free bursary for living costs for 3 and a half years. For 2018/19 this is £14,777 per year.
• a research training support grant for 3 and a half years of £1,650 per year.

You may also supplement your income with paid teaching (with your supervisor’s agreement).

Type of award

Postgraduate Research

PhD project

A 3-and-a-half year PhD position is available in in the Quantum Systems and Devices Group

Neutral atoms can be cooled and trapped using a combination of static and oscillating electromagnetic fields. We produce Bose-Einstein condensates on atom chips and used them to microscopically probe the local magnetic field close to surfaces with very high sensitivity. See Wildermuth, et al. “Microscopic magnetic-field imaging.” Nature 435, 440 (2005) for reference.

Surface effects, such as Casimir forces and Johnson noise impede magnetic trapping of atoms at the sub-micron level. Understanding atom-surface interactions is of fundamental interest, and using novel materials such as graphene, will allow for a reduced separation between atoms and samples. Reduction of the distance leads to enhanced sensitivity to current flowing along the sample surface.

The aim of the project is to improve the sensitivity of our magnetic microscope to current in two dimensional samples. It involves experimental work on atom chip based cold atom systems from the design to characterisation of the microscope, measurement of nanostructured samples such as graphene, plasmonic and metamaterials, as well as theory and numerical simulations.

You will play a central role in this investigation and will learn a wide array of tools in atomic physics, quantum technology and modelling. Emphasis on various aspects of research (modelling, experimental work, sample fabrication) can be adjusted to the interests of the student.

On this project, you will obtain experience in the following:

•  Neutral cold atom systems, Bose-Einstein condensates
• Experimental techniques such as optics, laser spectroscopy, electronics
• Atom chips and printed circuit board technology
• Numerical methods
• Quantum theory optionally
• Learn about nanostructured materials and devices
• Publish and present research in high-quality international journals and conferences.
• Report orally and prepare papers reporting progress and delivery of project outcomes.
• Pro-actively contribute to the activities of the research group.

Eligibility

To be eligible, you must:

-          be a UK/European Union (EU) student who has been resident in the UK/EU for at least three years.

-          have or expect to have a UK undergraduate/master’s degree, or equivalent, in Physics or a related subject.

-          you should have background in Atomic and Quantum Physics and have excellent IT skills including programming.

Deadline

31 December 2018 8:53

How to apply

Apply online here

Select the PhD in Physics with a February 2019 start date.

In the Finance section, you should enter the name of the studentship, 'Magnetic microscopy with Bose-Einstein condensates'.

Be sure to supply all of the required documents, particularly your transcripts and the details of two referees.

Due to the high volume of applications received, you may only hear from us if your application is successful.

Contact us

Email Professor Peter Krueger if you have any informal enquiries or for further information.

Email mpsreasearchsupport@sussex.ac.uk if you have a question about your eligibility for the project.