Postgraduate research opportunities Advancing the performance of the next-generation of compact optical atomic clocks

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Key facts

  • Opens: Friday 1 November 2024
  • Deadline: Friday 7 February 2025
  • Number of places: 1
  • Duration: 4 years
  • Funding: Equipment costs, Home fee, International fee, Stipend, Travel costs

Overview

This 4-year PhD project is part of the EPSRC-funded Centre for Doctoral Training in Applied Quantum Technologies. As well as completing a PhD project in an aligned topic, CDT students will also benefit from technical and skills-based training in all aspects of quantum technologies.
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Eligibility

All applicants must have or expect to obtain a first-class or second-class honours degree, or equivalent, in a relevant subject OR have or expect to obtain a Masters degree.

THE Awards 2019: UK University of the Year Winner
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Project Details

Atomic clocks are the hidden-in-plain-sight quantum technology that modern society is reliant upon. Since their invention over 50 years ago, atomic clocks have been applied to an increasing range of applications with demanding requirements on timing and frequency stability. These range from the clocks in GPS satellites, to time-delay enabled earthquake detection, to high-bandwidth telecommunications, to the stability of electrical grids.

Moving from microwave to optical clocks provides orders of magnitude improvement in performance. However, the widespread employment of ultracold optical clocks is hindered by two features: their inherent complexity, and the sensitivity to vibrations and accelerations that are counter-intuitively introduced by use of laser-cooled atoms. The former limits the SWAP-C, while the latter effectively precludes the operation of an ultracold optical clock on a moving platform.

This project will involve the study of optical atomic clocks, with the goal of demonstrating a compact and accurate atomic sensor. This project will build on the joint expertise at Strathclyde and the Fraunhofer Centre for Applied Photonics to develop a compact atomic clock systems for portable operation, while providing performance beyond the commercial state-of-the-art. Specific areas of expertise to be explored at the construction and development of narrow-linewidth lasers for low-noise interrogation, optimised optical system design for compact optical clocks, maximising the signal-to-noise ratio of background-free detection channels, and a broad exploration of atom-light interactios in atomic gasses. You will gain knowledge of atom-laser interactions and engineering techniques to bridge the technology gap between lab-based and field-grade devices.

Our groups have strong links to NPL, Quantum Technology Hubs, and UK and international collaborators, which will help drive the success of this ambitious experiment Atomic clocks are the hidden-in-plain-sight quantum technology that modern society is reliant upon. Since their invention over 50 years ago, atomic clocks have been applied to an increasing range of applications with demanding requirements on timing and frequency stability. These range from the clocks in GPS satellites, to time-delay enabled earthquake detection, to high-bandwidth telecommunications, to the stability of electrical grids.

Moving from microwave to optical clocks provides orders of magnitude improvement in performance. However, the widespread employment of ultracold optical clocks is hindered by two features: their inherent complexity, and the sensitivity to vibrations and accelerations that are counter-intuitively introduced by use of laser-cooled atoms. The former limits the SWAP-C, while the latter effectively precludes the operation of an ultracold optical clock on a moving platform.

This project will involve the study of optical atomic clocks, with the goal of demonstrating a compact and accurate atomic sensor. This project will build on the joint expertise at Strathclyde and a the Fraunhofer Centre for Applied Photonics to develop a compact atomic clock systems for portable operation, while providing performance beyond the commercial state-of-the-art. Specific areas of expertise to be explored at the construction and development of narrow-linewidth lasers for low-noise interrogation, optimised optical system design for compact optical clocks, maximising the signal-to-noise ratio of background-free detection channels, and a broad exploration of atom-light interactios in atomic gasses. You will gain knowledge of atom-laser interactions and engineering techniques to bridge the technology gap between lab-based and field-grade devices.


Our groups have strong links to NPL, Quantum Technology Hubs, and UK and international collaborators, which will help drive the success of this ambitious experiment that incorporates atomics, optics, integrated photonics, and real-world applications.

Further information

EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Applied Quantum Technologies

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Funding details

The funding provided for these fully funded PhDs will include four years of both tuition fees and monthly stipend payments.

Fully funded studentships are available at the UK home rate and international rate.

Home Students

To be eligible for a fully funded UK home studentship you must:

  • Be a UK national or UK/EU dual national or non-UK national with settled status / pre-settled status / indefinite leave to remain / indefinite leave to enter / discretionary leave / EU migrant worker in the UK or non-UK national with a claim for asylum or the family member of such a person, and
  • Have ordinary residence in the UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man or British Overseas Territory, at the Point of Application, and
  • Have three years residency in the UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man, British Overseas Territory or EEA before the relevant date of application unless residency outside of the UK/ EEA has been of a temporary nature only and of a period less than six years

International Students

There are a limited number of international studentships for exceptional candidates who do not meet the UK home status mentioned above.

Candidates should check if they require an ATAS certificate; eligible nationalities are listed on GOV.UK (UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office). 

International candidates whose first language is not English must demonstrate their proficiency in the English language with IELTS certification or equivalent.

While there is no funding in place for opportunities marked "unfunded", there are lots of different options to help you fund postgraduate research. Visit funding your postgraduate research for links to government grants, research councils funding and more, that could be available.

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Supervisors

Professor Griffin

Professor Paul Griffin

Physics

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Primary supervisor: Professor Paul Griffin

Secondary supervisor: Dr Rachel Elvin (Industry supervisor) (Fraunhofer)

 

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Apply

Applications should be submitted via the AQT website in the first instance.

Number of places: 1

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