PhD Position Quantum Sensing with a Levitated Optomechanical System

Come join the Rossi Lab at QN to explore macroscopic quantum physics!

Job description

Are you enthusiastic about quantum physics and its foundations? Do you want to explore the transition from the classical to the quantum world while developing real-world applications in quantum sensing? Then this PhD position is for you!

Quantum technologies are based on uniquely quantum effects. Among them, sensors using oscillating mechanical systems are especially promising: they can advance technologies such as navigation, positioning, and force sensing, while also enabling fundamental research into questions like the quantum nature of gravity. To bring these vibrating systems into the quantum regime, they must be isolated from their environment. One powerful approach is to levitate them in vacuum with electromagnetic fields, offering unrivaled dynamic control and a broad sensor mass range, from femtograms to nanograms.

In recent years, we made major progress in controlling the motion of such levitated systems down to the single-quantum level. This has enabled us, for instance, to generate non-classical “squeezed” states of motion. The next frontier is to extend quantum control to sensing applications that include detection of tiny recoils, from molecules of rarefied gases to potential dark matter particles.

We are looking for motivated PhD students to join our lab and contribute to this ambitious and cutting-edge effort!

As a PhD student in our team, you will tackle the question: How can quantum measurements and control techniques be harnessed in macroscopic sensors? You will:

• Build a tabletop experiment with optical tweezers to trap nanospheres in vacuum.
• Use quantum-limited detectors to measure their motion and apply opto-electrical control to reach the motional ground state.
• Develop and implement new control schemes to generate non-classical motional states, boosting sensitivity to detect forces of both coherent and impulsive nature.
• Perform some of the most sensitive measurements ever done in a lab!

With your work, you will expand the family of quantum sensors and open new applications for levitated systems — from gas sensing to probing physics beyond the Standard Model.

You will join a diverse, motivated, and supportive team of academic staff and students in Delft. We foster an inspiring and collaborative atmosphere, meeting regularly to share ideas, knowledge, and social time. As a PhD student, you will learn how to design and build new experimental setups, run measurement campaigns and analyze their data, gain expertise in modeling and controlling equipment, and receive extensive training to grow as a scientist in this fast-moving field.

This position offers excellent prospects for a scientific career in quantum technologies, both in academia and industry.

Job requirements

As a highly motivated researcher, you want to work at the cutting edge of science. You have a particular affinity for quantum mechanics and enjoy discussing its intricacies. Driven by curiosity, you are creative, independent and eager to take the initiative. You have the planning skills to deal with a complex PhD project. You also have:

• An MSc degree in physics, or a closely related field.
• Knowledge of laser and optics, optomechanics, quantum optics is an advantage.
• General experience of experimental physics is preferred.
• Experience in data analysis using Python.

The outcomes of this project will be disseminated to the scientific community and a general audience through presentations at (inter)national conferences and through publications in peer-reviewed journals. You will also participate in English-taught Doctoral Education courses and write scientific articles and a final thesis. In addition, you may be involved in training and teaching BSc and MSc students. A certain level of English proficiency is therefore required, as well as the social skills to deal with many stakeholders.

TU Delft (Delft University of Technology)

Delft University of Technology is built on strong foundations. As creators of the world-famous Dutch waterworks and pioneers in biotech, TU Delft is a top international university combining science, engineering and design. It delivers world class results in education, research and innovation to address challenges in the areas of energy, climate, mobility, health and digital society. For generations, our engineers have proven to be entrepreneurial problem-solvers, both in business and in a social context.

Faculty Applied Sciences

With more than 1,100 employees, including 150 pioneering principal investigators, as well as a population of about 3,600 passionate students, the Faculty of Applied Sciences is an inspiring scientific ecosystem. Focusing on key enabling technologies, such as quantum- and nanotechnology, photonics, biotechnology, synthetic biology and materials for energy storage and conversion, our faculty aims to provide solutions to important problems of the 21st century. To that end, we educate innovative students in broad Bachelor's and specialist Master's programmes with a strong research component. Our scientists conduct ground-breaking fundamental and applied research in the fields of Life and Health Science & Technology, Nanoscience, Chemical Engineering, Radiation Science & Technology, and Engineering Physics. We are also training the next generation of high school teachers.

Conditions of employment

Doctoral candidates will be offered a 4-year period of employment in principle, but in the form of 2 employment contracts. An initial 1.5 year contract with an official go/no go progress assessment within 15 months, followed by an additional contract for the remaining 2.5 years assuming everything goes well and performance requirements are met.

Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities, increasing from Promovendus gross per month, from the first year to the fourth year based on a fulltime contract (38 hours), plus 8% holiday allowance and an end-of-year bonus of 8.3%.

As a PhD candidate you will be enrolled in the TU Delft Graduate School. The TU Delft Graduate School provides an inspiring research environment with an excellent team of supervisors, academic staff and a mentor. The Doctoral Education Programme is aimed at developing your transferable, discipline-related and research skills.

The TU Delft offers a customisable compensation package, discounts on health insurance, and a monthly work costs contribution. Flexible work schedules can be arranged.

Additional information

If you would like more information about this role, please contact Massimiliano Rossi by email at m.rossi-1@tudelft.nl.