PhD Studentship in Quantum Processor Development (2019)

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 £1,250 per year

Type of award

Postgraduate Research

PhD project

A fully funded 3.5 year PhD position is available in the Ion Trap Cavity-QED and Molecular Physics (ITCM) Group in the Department of Physics & Astronomy at the University of Sussex. The project is within the Networked Quantum Information Technologies Hub.

This project unites two distinct areas of quantum information processing: single ions stored in radio-frequency traps and single photons in optical fibres. Both fields have seen spectacular advances in recent years. Strings of ions are presently the most successful implementation of quantum computing, with elementary quantum algorithms and quantum simulations realised. Photons are used to distribute entanglement over ever increasing distances.

The principal challenge in the field is to enhance quantum processing power by scaling up current devices to larger quantum systems. We are pursuing one of the most promising strategies, distributed quantum computation, in which multiple small-scale ion processors are interlinked by exchanging photonic quantum bits via optical fibres. This requires novel ion trap structures that facilitate high-performance quantum computation and a photonic interconnect for networking. To create a high efficiency ion-photon interconnect for networking, we use miniature optical cavities. The Ion Trap Cavity-QED and Molecular Physics group in Sussex has a leading role in this field. 

The aim of this project is to design, build and test a compact ion based quantum information processor. It consists of a linear ion trap with several separate trapping regions in which the ions can be loaded, cooled and quantum information processing can be performed. In addition, the structure contains a trapping region in which an optical micro-cavity is employed as a quantum interconnect between different quantum processors. The project involves the simulation of the ion trapping structure and the ion dynamic in the ion trap as well as the shuttling between different trapping regions. The optimised trapping structure will then be fabricated using micro-fabrication techniques and characterised. The transfer of ions between the various trapping regions and the quantum interconnect will be tested.

An important part of this PhD project is the skills development and training. Local training through lecture courses, transferable skills training modules and practical training in the laboratory will be complemented by SEPNet wide training events. These include workshops and training schools.

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 Engineering.

We also welcome applications from self-funded non-EU students.

 

Deadline

18 April 2019 23:45

How to apply

Apply online here.

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

In the Finance section, you should enter the name of the studentship, which is: Quantum Processor Development

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

For practical questions about applications and/or eligibility for funding, please contact Rebecca Foster at: mpsresearchsupport@sussex.ac.uk

 

For academic questions please contact the supervisor of this project, Prof Matthias Keller (m.k.keller@sussex.ac.uk). 

Timetable

The position will be filled as soon as a suitable candidate is found so you should apply as soon as you are able to.