A generously funded Scientia Scholarship is available to for an experimental PhD project to study hole quantum dots.

The scholarship is fully funded for 4 years (including all university tuition fees, a AUS$40k (US$30k) annual stipend, and an additional annual research/travel budget), and is open to applicants from any nationality.

The research project will investigate hole spins in quantum dots. In the past decade intense research has been devoted in trapping electrons trapped in semiconductor quantum dots, initially to study the fundamental properties of artificial atoms, and subsequently to use the spin of the electrons as the basis for quantum information technologies. To date almost all research has focussed on the properties of electrons in semiconductor quantum dots. However very recent theoretical work suggests that that using positively charged semiconductor holes, rather than negatively charged electrons, may bring significant advantages – as well revealing much unexplored new physics. This is because of the much stronger spin-orbit interaction that exists in holes than electrons, allowing the hole spins to be manipulated simply by applying an electric field. The PhD candidate will study holes trapped in semiconductor quantum dots, to perform all electrical control of hole spins, and to test if holes can make good quantum bits. Experiments will be conducted at ultra-low temperatures, using ultra-low noise electrical measurement and control techniques.

The project is a collaborative effort between Scientia Professor Alex Hamilton in the Department of Physics and Scientia Professor Andrew Dzurak in the department of Electrical Engineering & Telecommunications. Further details of the group's research can be found at https://www.phys.unsw.edu.au/qed

Given the generous stipend and project funding, applicants are expected to have a first class academic record from a world top-200 university (or top in the country), and at least one peer reviewed publication. Details of how to apply are here: http://www.2025.unsw.edu.au/apply/scientia-phd-scholarships/hole-spins-quantum-dots Prospective applicants must contact Alex.Hamilton@unsw.edu.au by 20 July 2017.