Squeezed light, where noise along one component of a signal is reduced below the limit set by the uncertainty principle, is a non-classical resource that has been used extensively to increase the accuracy of measurements. Squeezing has been deployed for the detection of gravitational waves, to improve sensing of magnetic fields and even to speed up the search for dark matter.

This project will use squeezing to improve the detection of spins inside materials. Spin is a fundamental quantum property of nature and the ability to detect spins in materials (a widely used technique called spin resonance spectroscopy) is important in a diverse range of fields, including Biology, Chemistry, Materials Science and Physics.

The project will exploit new high-performance superconducting microwave squeezing devices developed at UNSW [D. J. Parker, …,Jarryd J. Pla, Phys. Rev. Appl. 17, 034064 (2022)] that can be operated in magnetic fields and directly integrated with spins [W. Vine, ..., Jarryd J. Pla, Science Advances, adg1593 (2023)] to push spin detection sensitivities beyond the standard quantum limit, opening up the prospects of measuring samples at the micro and nanoscale.

This project is based within the research group led by Associate Professor Jarryd Pla in the School of Electrical Engineering & Telecommunications at UNSW Sydney. Applications should be sent via email to jarryd@unsw.edu.au as a pdf file with the subject line “Application: PhD in Microwave Squeezing” by May 31. The application should include a CV, copies of your university transcript(s) and degree(s), a brief cover letter stating your motivation for applying for the project and any relevant experience and the name and email addresses of two academic references that can provide letters of recommendation if requested.