About the Project
Atom interferometers, which exploit the short de Broglie wavelengths of ultracold atoms and the exact reproducibility of their rest-frame transition frequencies, are quantum technologies with great potential for measuring acceleration and rotation, and for sensing electric, magnetic and gravitational fields. This project will be to build an atom interferometric ’gyroscope’ for eventual use in high-precision inertial navigation.
The gyroscope will be based upon our existing apparatus, in which Raman transitions between the hyperfine states of cold atomic rubidium form the velocity-sensitive atom interferometer at the heart of new schemes for cooling atoms and molecules. A crucial technique, which we have implemented in our current experiment, is the use of composite pulses: borrowed from the field of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and closely related to error correction in quantum computers, these maintain the fidelity of quantum operations in the presence of experimental variations, and allow the rotational sensitivity to be improved by using ’large area’ interferometer geometries.
This broad-ranging project will combine experimental work with lasers, optics, photonic instrumentation and electronics with programming for control and analysis; integrated miniaturization in the later stages of the project will require some microfabrication design and cleanroom work. Throughout, the project will require and develop a deep knowledge of quantum physics necessary for the design, operation, analysis and refinement of the quantum gyroscope.
A 4 year bursary will provide an annual stipend (currently around £14,000), together with tuition fees for UK/EU students. Applicants should have, or be about to obtain, a first or upper-second class degree in Physics or a closely-related discipline. Please note that applicants must be EU nationals.
For informal enquiries, contact Dr Tim Freegarde, telephone +44 (0)23 8059 2347, [Email Address Removed].
Funding Notes
A 4 year bursary will provide an annual stipend (currently around £14,000), together with tuition fees for UK/EU students. Applicants should have, or be about to obtain, a first or upper-second class degree in Physics or a closely-related discipline. Please note that applicants must be EU nationals.