Experimental Quantum Simulations based on Trapped Ions (& Atoms)

Direct experimental access to the most intriguing and puzzling quantum phenomena is extremely difficult and their numerical simulation on conventional computers can easily become computationally intractable. However, one might gain deeper insight into complex quantum dynamics via experimentally simulating and modelling the quantum behaviour of interest in a second quantum system. There, the significant parameters and interactions are precisely controlled and underlying quantum effects can be detected sufficiently well, thus, their relevance might be revealed. Trapped atomic ions have been shown to be a unique platform for quantum control, evidenced by the most precise operations of quantum information processing and their performance as best atomic clocks. Still, scaling is the major challenge – i.e. the endeavour to control increasingly large systems of particles at the quantum level will be one of the driving forces for physical sciences in the coming decades. We aim to control charged atoms at the highest level possible to further scale many-body (model) systems ion by ion. This approach is, in a way, the ultimate form of engineering - in radio-frequency traps, as well as in all-optical traps, when combined with ultracold atoms.

Understanding and engineering microscopic sources of noise in solid-state quantum devices

PhD supervisors : Dr Clemens Müller and Dr Andreas Fuhrer

Eligibility criteria and requirements
The candidate should have a solid background in quantum mechanics, quantum optics and quantum information theory, ideally with previous experience in the theory of open quantum system. The candidate must be curious to learn and expand her/his expertise on quantum circuit design, condensed matter physics, materials science, surface chemistry, and experimental data analysis. Excellent coding skills and a working knowledge of Mathematica and Python are expected.

QUSTEC programme follows MSCA eligibility criteria: Required level of experience is ‘Early Stage Researcher’ according to the definition in the work programme of the 2018-2020 Marie Skłodowska-Curie actions: Applicants must, at the date of the respective call deadline of QUSTEC, be in the first four years (full-time equivalent research experience) of their research careers and have not yet been awarded a doctoral degree. Mobility criterion: The applicants must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the country of the future host organisation for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately before the call deadline of QUSTEC. Short stays such as holidays are not taken into account. For refugees under the Geneva Convention, the refugee procedure (i.e. before refugee status is conferred) will not be counted as a period of residence/activity in the country of the host organisation.