PhD Projects

Current consumer cameras, such as those we have on our mobile phones have the incredible ability to ‘see’ single photons of light, whilst only costing a few pounds to manufacture. Unfortunately, such cameras are limited by only being able to work in the visible region of the spectrum; many applications in medicine and environmental monitoring require imaging in the mid infrared, where camera technology is both orders of magnitudes worse and more expensive. We are using quantum correlations to convert infrared images into the visible wavelength range where they can be imaged with a consumer camera, i.e. imaging with un-detected photons. By using spatial light shaping technology in the visible beam we can implement multi-modal imaging, e.g. edge enhanced or phase contrast or structured illumination for resolution enhancement.   In this project our ambition is to create the highest resolution, highest speed, furthest wavelength microscopes exploring both new physics and its applications. The project will develop skills in imaging systems, quantum optics, optical engineering and modelling. Listening to, and working with, end-users will be key to the success of this project.

The goal of this PhD project is to develop a comprehensive toolbox for quantum imaging that addresses key challenges in performance and integration into practical, functional systems. This toolbox will include components, software, and methodologies designed to enable the development of quantum-enhanced imaging systems. Our goal is to create noise-robust, high-resolution quantum imaging systems capable of detecting mid-infrared wavelengths using silicon sensors. To achieve this, we will leverage quantum entanglement, induced coherence via nonlinear interferometry, advanced single-photon-sensitive cameras, and develop novel computational algorithms. 

Current nonlinear and direct up-conversion imaging systems are restricted to low spatial resolutions and a restricted field of view. These limitations arise from fundamental constraints, including the limited numerical apertures and phase matching conditions of the non-linear crystals used for quantum light generation. This project aims to overcome these issues by employing structured light modes—both spatial and temporal—leading to significant improvements in imaging quality. Spatially structured light modes, when combined with computational imaging, are already widely used in conventional microscopy to achieve significant advancements in certain imaging techniques. Our goal is to develop and then apply these techniques to nonlinear microscopy to achieve similar benefits. 

Building upon our pioneering work on high-dimensional entangled states [1], this project aims to investigate further into the theoretical and experimental aspects of quantum information processing based on high-dimensional systems, with a focus on advancing quantum communication and sensing technologies. High-dimensional quantum systems, or qudits, promise significant advantages over traditional qubit systems, including increased information capacity, enhanced security in quantum cryptography, and improved resilience to noise and decoherence [2,3]. However, several open questions and practical challenges remain in fully exploiting these advantages. 

One of the central theoretical challenges lies in developing efficient quantum algorithms that exploit the richer Hilbert space of qudits. While qudits theoretically enable more complex computations and higher data capacity, practical implementations require novel approaches to quantum gate design and error correction tailored to high-dimensional systems [4,5]. Understanding how to construct universal sets of quantum gates for qudits and how to perform high-fidelity operations remains an open question critical to the advancement of qudit quantum computing. 

In quantum communication, higher-dimensional entangled states have been shown to enhance security against eavesdropping and increase the channel capacity of quantum key distribution protocols [6]. However, the practical realization of these protocols faces limitations due to challenges in the generation, transmission, and detection of high-dimensional entangled photons. Issues such as mode dispersion in optical fibres, sensitivity to environmental perturbations, and the complexity of high-dimensional state measurement impede scalability and real-world deployment [7]. This project will explore innovative schemes to circumvent these challenges, such as leveraging adaptive optics, encoding methods like orbital angular momentum modes, path and time bins, and integrated photonic circuits to generate and control high-dimensional entangled states with greater stability and efficiency [8,9]. 

The practicality of realising qudit systems is also a significant hurdle in quantum sensing applications. High-dimensional entangled states can, in principle, improve sensitivity and resolution beyond the standard quantum limit [10]. Yet, implementing these states in practical sensors is hindered by technical difficulties in state preparation and detection, as well as vulnerability to experimental imperfections. There will be scope in the project to investigate new schemes that can operate under realistic conditions, potentially incorporating hybrid systems that combine different physical modalities to enhance robustness while retaining the advantages offered by high-dimensional entanglement [11]. 

By addressing these theoretical and practical challenges, this project seeks to push the boundaries of quantum secure communication and quantum networking. Our research will contribute to the development of new quantum algorithms, error correction methods, and experimental techniques that make high-dimensional quantum systems more accessible and functional.  

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. The student 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. The student 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.

Endoscopic imaging systems based upon bundles of optical fibres are commonplace across medical and industrial applications. However, even just one of these optical fibres, less that 100µm in diameter, can transmit enough spatial modes to relay an entire image. The challenge to achieve this image transmission lies in overcoming intermodal dispersion; an effect which rephases modes such that any input image becomes unrecognisable. We overcome this dispersion using advanced optical phase-shaping techniques, allowing calibration and the creation of a scanning laser beam emerging from the end of a stationary, and tiny, fibre. The backscatter from this scanning beam give the intensity of each scanned pixel. The fibre is small and hence the intensity of the backscattered light is highly quantised (by photon number). We need to count and time this photons with extremely high rates. We what to devise technique to obtain 3D images (c.f. radar) from photon sparse data, and perform real time calibration.

We will develop a compact, fully portable instrument that we can trial in various applications spanning industrial inspection and medical sciences. The project will develop skills in optical design, single-photon detection and timing, embedding the computer control, and machine learning for rapid calibrations and image processing. Listening to, and working with, end-users will be key to the success of this project.

This exciting Applied Quantum Technologies PhD project harnesses new developments in nanotechnology and superconducting materials to engineer next generation quantum technologies. Superconducting materials and devices underpin many rapid advances in the quantum technology arena [1]. Superconducting thin films and precision nanofabrication allow a range of devices to be engineered, from superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors for sensing and communications [2], to superconducting qubits and quantum processors [3]. These components are the building blocks of 21st century quantum networks. However, current generation devices suffer from losses due to uncontrolled interface states and surface damage, necessitating the use of more advanced fabrication techniques. Atomic Layer deposition (ALD) and atomic layer etching (ALE) allow key superconducting materials to be added or removed with nm-scale precision. This exciting PhD project builds on a strong partnership between the University of Glasgow and Oxford Instruments Plasma Technology [4]. The University of Glasgow hosts the James Watt Nanofabrication Centre with state-of-the-art electron beam lithography. Superb facilities for superconducting device characterization are available in the University of Glasgow Mazumdar-Shaw Advanced Research Centre. Oxford Instruments Plasma Technology offers cutting edge techniques and hardware for ALD and ALE [1], [7]. This project is suitable for a talented and motivated candidate with a background in engineering, materials science, physics or chemistry.
First supervisor Professor Robert Hadfield is a leading expert in superconducting single-photon detectors [8]. Co-supervisor Professor Martin Weides is Director of the James Watt Nanofabrication Centre and an authority on superconducting qubits. Industry supervisor Dr Ciaran Lennon completed his PhD through the CDT-ISM and the University of Glasgow and is Oxford Instruments Plasma Technology Researcher-in-Residence at the James Watt Nanofabrication Centre.

The separation of atomic energy levels provides previously unobtainable accuracy and precision in metrology, with a système international (SI) traceable reference to frequency and length, which are intrinsically tied to the definition of other SI units such as temperature and voltage. Instrumentation that utilises atomic spectroscopy for metrology remain at the state-of-the-art for atomic clocks, magnetometers and wavelength references. On-chip atomic systems offer a simplicity and design versatility that has found application in the measurement of physical quantities such as time, length, magnetic field, and rotation, finding commercial deployment in navigation, medicine, surveyance and communication. However, the performance trade-offs made to scale down these early proof-of-principle apparatus have largely hindered the capabilities of field deployable atomic sensors. The proposed research will facilitate the needs of a growing quantum technology market through the development of comprehensive chip-scale platforms that are adaptable to a plethora of field-deployable sensing applications.

The research within this project is focused on the miniaturisation of cold-atom systems for chip-scale position navigation and timing. The project will investigate the integration of micro-fabricated components for laser cooling, such as micro-electro-mechanical-systems (MEMS) vacuum cells for cold atom physics [1,2]. This study will evaluate cell pressure and alkali density longevity as we explore new mechanisms for mass producibility and vapour cell isolation. This technology is built upon previous research our team has led over the past decade, where microfabricated cold and thermal atom systems have been fabricated and used in the construction of atomic wavelength references [2,3] and clocks. Beyond the platform engineering, the project will utilise the chip-scale platform for microwave atomic clock measurements, with an outlook to fully integrated approach to cold atom metrology. The hybridised micro-engineering and atomic metrology research of this project advances the state-of-art in chip-scale capabilities while providing a sovereign lab-on-a-chip research programme.

Loss is ubiquitous in natural systems, due to interactions with their environment. For information processing, it is a way to lose entropy, which is arguably what you need to
do to extract only the salient features from data. Instead of seeing loss as an imperfection to be engineered around, can we harness it? For example, the natural properties of photons include that they aren’t conserved – one photon can be split into two lower energy photons. As part of a funded research project, we are currently developing ways to compute that use photon loss -and gain – as features, not bugs.
This PhD project will start from these novel ways to compute and develop the potential applications they are most suited for, devising test algorithms that can be run on existing hardware, such as the photonic quantum computer hosted by the National Quantum Computing Centre. There are many possible directions the research could take, and there will be freedom to explore multiple promising avenues depending on your interest

Research Question:
The question to be answered in this project is quite a fundamental one; ‘how do spins precess?’ but with a clear pathway for significant impact in spin-based quantum technologies. This might seem straight forward and even well understood, but our understanding of spin dynamics is largely restricted to steady states (i.e. long timescales). Therefore, understanding the temporal spin dynamics before stabilisation is paramount to realising any successful incorporation of these systems into quantum technologies [1]. Furthermore, for high quality factor magnetic materials, stabilisation happens over hundreds of nanoseconds and many quantum applications require operation rates within (or below) this timeframe. Thus, the discovery and understanding of unknown phenomena within this timeframe could open-up new functionality for quantum and classical technologies that require fast and low latency operations [2].

Proposed Research, its Importance, and engagement with current research:
The field of quantum magnonics focuses on controlling and reading out quanta of collective spin excitations in magnetically ordered systems. Control and manipulation of these quasi-particles, known as magnons, provides opportunities for advancing quantum technologies. For instance, magnon-photon hybridisation as a route to distribute quantum information has become an active topic of research. More recently, entanglement between a superconducting qubit and a magnetic sample has been demonstrated, showing that it is possible to detect a single quantum of magnetic excitation (a single magnon) within the magnet [3]. This entanglement-based single-shot detection of a single magnon using superconducting qubits was not only a giant leap towards magnet-based quantum sensing [4], but also demonstrates an active component of hybrid quantum systems that should find a wide range of applications in quantum technologies. In quantum magnonic devices there is a coupling—or coherent exchange of information—between photon and magnon modes [5]. This coupling, in addition to being able to directly couple to (and exchange information with) third party quantum components is being investigated for the up-conversion of microwave quantum information into optical signals that can be transferred over long distances [6]. The coherent conversion of microwave signals into optical photons could significantly expand our ability to process and communicate quantum states and it would be imperative for quantum-noise-limited microwave electronic components. Perhaps even more exciting, conversion of said information remains one of the key hurdles to creating a quantum internet—which would enable sharing quantum information between quantum computers as we do with current technology [2,7].

Methodology:
This project will draw inspiration from recent efforts in the field of electron spins in semiconductors where research has explored how to shape pulses to take a single spin from a quantum state into another in a controlled fashion, and to control and manipulate several distinct spins in a crystal lattice, for example, to build quantum registers. Therefore, expanding this is imperative to successfully interface spintronic technologies with quantum circuits. For instance, high-amplitude excitations can lead to non-linear dynamics which is analogous to spin qubits but yet to be investigated in magnonic systems. This is, however, crucial for developing effective quantum spintronic technology for information exchange.

Ultra cold lattice gases, neutral bosonic and fermionic atoms confined in highly controlled optical potentials, are already one of the most successful platforms for analog quantum simulation, capable of outperforming classical computers on a range of tasks related e.g. to the theory of correlated quantum matter. This PhD-project will further deepen the power of this quantum simulation platform. The project will do so by designing novel experiments using tools from quantum many-body theory. This theory will build on recent beyond-state-of-the-art numerical many-body algorithms originating from the supervisor’s group, matrix product states plus mean-field theory (MPS+MF) [1,2,3], as well as massively parallelized density matrix renormalization group numerics (pDMRG) [4]. Utilizing these tools, the successful PhD-applicant will pursue three interlinked cutting-edge objectives: Design experiments for ultra cold lattice gases to establish these as simulators of non-equilibrium dynamics leading to ordered many-body states above critical temperature (Tc). Dynamically-induced ordering is a growing field, especially in high-Tc superconducting materials [5]. The prospect of obtaining even short-lived superconducting states well above Tc – and possibly close to room temperature – from quenching these materials is driving much experimental activity on high-Tc materials. However, the theoretical understanding of how ordered states above Tc might actually be generated from non-equilibrium dynamics remains rudimentary. This part of the PhD-project will deploy the MPS+MF framework to show in detail as to how ultra cold lattice gases can be turned into quantum simulators for dynamically generated ordering above Tc for three types of many-body states: Bose-Einstein condensates, Mott insulators and superconductors. Design experiments using ultra cold lattice gases on how to generate analogue states of high-Tc superconductivity in a metastable, mixed-dimensional equilibrium state. With the basic mechanism for high-Tc superconductivity still not understood even in the most simplified single-band models such as the 2D Hubbard- and tJ-models, ultra cold lattice gases have long been pursued as quantum simulators for this phenomenon. However, the magnetic superexchange energies achievable in ultra cold lattice gases were too low to realize such states. The advent of mixed-dimensional metastable states has radically changed this, boosting the possible magnetic superexchange energies to exceed the experimentally feasible temperatures [6]. This part of the PhD-project will utilize the MPS+MF framework to design experiments capable of finally realizing the analogue of a high-Tc superconducting states in ultra cold lattice gases. Lowering the experimentally achievable entropy in ultra cold lattice gas-based quantum simulators. Quantum simulators based on ultra cold lattice gases work at a fixed entropy per particle. The lower this crucial quantity is, the more useful will this platform be for quantum simulation, such as e.g. for quantum chemistry via variational energy minimization. This part of the PhD-project builds on proposals by the supervisor to lower the entropy per particle by dynamically disentangling two layers in such a way as to shift entropy out of one of the layers, resulting in a low-entropy layer [7]. This part of the project will be about modelling concrete experiments using pDMRG, finding schemes that perform especially well.

Magnetic properties of materials have been under intense scrutiny for decades, motivated on the one hand by the constant need to improve storage applications to meet the requirements of our modern information society and on the other hand by complex and yet not fully understood fundamental phenomena such their connection to high-Tc superconductivity and new phases like altermagnetism with potential long-term applications. Exotic magnetic properties associated to high-order multipole states (quadrupole and beyond) in heavy-fermion metals have also recently attracted interest, not the least due to the connection to unconventional superconductivity [1,2]. Motivated by these questions, the project will investigate quadrupolar and dipolar ordering in a cold atom system of rubidium atoms with light-induced magnetic interactions. Note that in contrast to other quantum simulation schemes, we are operating with real spin in real magnetic fields and not pseudo-spins in synthetic gauge fields. In this well controlled system, spontaneous quadrupolar ordering linked to anti-ferromagnetic dipolar ordering is found similarly to the condensed-matter systems [3-5]. Recently, we observed a spontaneously drifting multipolar spin density wave, an out-of-equilibrium generalization of sliding spin density waves [6], but many aspects of the dynamics are still unclear. The project is aimed at a detailed imaging and understanding of the magnetic atomic structure by optical and microwave means by measurements of the complete Stokes parameters of the transmitted pump and dedicated probe beams. It will analyse the excitation spectrum of the system (magnons) above and below threshold of ordering and look at the mechanisms responsible for the stabilization of the particular phases, in particular the highly interesting time-dependent phase and its relation to dissipative time crystals. We will look at the possibility of skyrmions and magnetic bubbles and their switching dynamics, which are currently discussed for spintronic quantum technologies. In addition, the investigations have an interdisciplinary aspect as the spontaneous emergence of the coupled magnetic light-spin structures has common features with self-organization and nonlinear dynamics in fields like hydrodynamics, biology and chemistry. The experimental results will be compared to a theory based on the density-matrix approach [4]. As the theory developed to describe the complex light matter interaction in arbitrarily oriented magnetic field is fully nonlinear, it is applicable also to understand the behaviour of alkaline-atom based magnetometers at arbitrary light levels. This aspect will be explored in collaboration with the strong activities on high-performance magnetometers within the Experimental Quantum Optics and Photonics group. We have a close collaboration with the Institut de Physique de Nice, Universite Cote d’Azur, France, with the possibility of a placement

Wouldn’t it be amazing if you could use a sensor as small as a single electron? We are offering a PhD project on a unique instrument, that uses the spin of a single electron in diamond as a tiny quantum sensor, to investigate open problems in condensed matter physics and materials science.

The project

We have recently installed in our labs the first commercial low-temperature scanning spin-based quantum sensor worldwide. The sensor uses the spin of a single electron on a diamond cantilever to map magnetic fields (and magnetic noise) with nanoscale spatial resolution, on a wide temperature range (1.6-300K).

Our goal is to apply this new technique to investigate the physics of novel 2D quantum materials and devices. Since the discovery of graphene, obtained by peeling off sheets only a single atom in thickness from graphite, researchers have discovered remarkable properties in a variety of 2D materials, including semiconductors, insulators, metals, superconductors, etc. These 2D layers can be re-assembled, atomic layer by atomic layer, into myriad configurations of different “heterostructures”, enabling tailoring of specific quantum properties at will. We will use our unique quantum sensing facility to map novel physics, in particular magnetic textures and superconductivity, in such heterostructures. The quantum sensor will for example enable explorations of how strong particle interactions lead to emergent macroscopic physical effects that may lead to next-generation “beyond-silicon” electronic devices. This project capitalises on unique 2D fabrication capabilities at Heriot-Watt University, which enable us to create very complex 2D heterostructures.

Recent research has highlighted the opportunity to use entangled photon pairs to probe fluorescently labelled biological samples. A pioneering publication from 2023 showed for example that it is possible to probe photosynthetic LH2 molecules in the single photon regime. This is a key innovation in the field as there still remain important unanswered questions of how photosensitive molecules are probed as the light used for probing might have unintended effects on the molecule itself. We have recently implemented the same approach in the labs at the University of Glasgow and seen that probing LH2 molecules and others can be very efficient, with measurement times of 1 second or less for a full fluorescence lifetime curve. An important development is the realisation that one can then use a low-cost and simple CW laser to pump a crystal and obtain entangled photon pairs. The entanglement can then be used to remotely (nonlocally at the heralding photon) select the frequency of the excitation photon. Similarly, the heralding photon provides the timing information of the excitation photon. The end result is a CW laser system that can achieve frequency tunable and sub-picosecond lifetime resolution with a total microscope cost that is 10x less than a standard (classical) system. But it also provides the capability to probe biological systems, one photon at a time i.e. at the lowest possible photon density. There are various research directions that will be pursued including: single photon probing of photoactivated drugs for cancer and light harvesting complexes; entangled photon probing of two-photon emitters; ghost imaging approaches with entangled photons for fully space-resolved, fluorescence lifetime bio-imaging.

Developments in single-photon detector technologies has opened exciting opportunities for passive and active imaging in extreme conditions (e.g. high-speed, low-illumination regimes), and in particular for imaging in scattering underwater environments [1]. This PhD project aims to investigate novel imaging techniques based on sensor fusion of single-photon detection technologies and classical approaches to improve the resolution, the achievable range, and the speed of current single-photon imaging techniques.

The project will involve hands on experimental work and desk-based work, including data analysis and feasibility studies. Therefore, the candidate will develop skills in single photon detection, design and construction of experimental optical setups, and programming. The experimental work will also include to plan, prepare, and conduct field trials [2].

The candidate will closely collaborate with the single photon group at Heriot-Watt University, who is internationally leading the research in this field. In addition, this PhD will involve working with academic and industrial partners in several fields, including single photon detector array design, underwater robotics, and image processing.

The study of strongly correlated electronic systems is central to various complex challenges in modern physics and chemistry, from high-temperature superconductivity to battery design and catalysisi. However, simulating many-body fermionic systems is particularly difficult because of their quantum nature, which classical computers cannot accurately model. Quantum simulators promise to overcome these challengesii by handling the problem quantum-mechanically. But most quantum computers, who could run such simulations, are based on qubits, which need to implement the fermionic exchange statistic on a software level with significant overhead in circuit depthiii and qubit numberiv limiting quantum simulation of electron problems to much smaller system sizesv than comparable simulations of spin systemsvi.
We are developing a Fermionic Quantum Computervii that promises to overcome these problems by digitally simulating electrons via the controlled motion and entanglement of fermionic atoms in an optical lattice. These digital gates combine the excellent coherence of atoms in optical lattices with the universality of gate-based time evolution and the full projective readout of quantum microscopesviii. First tests in this direction report already above 99% fidelity for entanglement gatesix, coherent motionsx, and successful local manipulation of tunneling dynamicsxi.
In this project, you will develop, build and test some of the core components of the first fermionic quantum computer by controlling the motion and entanglement of ultracold 6-Li atoms. You will learn how to cool a gas of atoms to a few Nanokelvin using laser cooling, high-power optical traps, and Feshbach resonance. You will also design two types of optical lattices: A millikelvin-deep lattice for loading atoms from a magneto-optical trap and pinning of atoms during single-atom resolved fluorescence imaging. A second bi-chromatic superlattice will allow to generate arrays of symmetric double wells, which serve as the core processing units for the quantum gates. Close collaboration with international experts will be essential to ensure the stability of this setup, as it directly impacts the experiment’s success.
This project demands a high level of commitment to long-term experimental development and a strong interest in quantum many-body systems. As you advance the frontier of quantum technology, you will acquire specialized skills in the lab, from single-atom imaging to the control of high-power lasers, and the application of optimal control techniques. The project is part of the EQOP group at the University of Strathclyde, a collaborative environment dedicated to quantum research.

A picture is worth a thousand words; and in a very real sense, images encoded in the profile of a laser provide a highly efficient method to encrypt and convey information. Vector light beams have spatially-dependent profiles sculpted in their intensity, phase and polarisation simultaneously. These present a particular set of complex images, with advanced generation and detection technology already in place – even for single photons. In this PhD project you will demonstrate storage and processing of vector light information in a rubidium vapour. You will support shifts between differently coloured images and build a dynamically controlled structured light optical conversion platform –required for a truly high-dimensional quantum network. The PhD will be carried out in the Experimental Quantum Optics and Photonics Group in the Physics Department at the University of Strathclyde.

This project has already generated relatively high-profile publications around a single previous Leverhulme grant (see below), and mainly requires a new student to work on the experiment again as the lasers, SLM, optics and cells already exist.

Cavity-enhanced nonlinearities, in particular optical parametric oscillation (OPOs), are among the most widely used systems for the generation of non-classical states of light, of interest for several quantum applications, such as imaging [1], communication [2], and computing [3]. However, OPOs remain bulky and complex, especially when one accounts for the addition of the noise suppression required for typical laser sources. Vertical-external-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VECSELs), on the other hand, are capable of very low noise operation and are intrinsically shot-noise limited over a broad frequency range. Further they provide the means to embed the nonlinear process directly inside the laser cavity. Recently, our group demonstrated the use of a VECSEL as the pump source for a single-frequency OPO for the first time, achieving broadly tuneable, narrow linewidth at optical communications wavelengths [4], taking advantage of low noise and relaxation-oscillation-free laser dynamics. To-date, this intra-VECSEL cavity singly resonant OPO (VECSEL ICSRO), has undergone ‘standard classical’ characterisation only. In this project, we will investigate the quantum properties of the system for the first time, in a variety of operating regimes:

• Below threshold, OPOs are a source of squeezed vacuum, a quantum state typically exploited for achieving sub-shot noise sensitivity in optical interferometry and narrowband heralded single photons [5].
• Above threshold the OPO generates squeezed coherent states and intense twin beams, characterised by an intensity difference noise that is theoretically zero. These beams can then be exploited for sensing and metrology e.g. for high-sensitivity spectroscopy.
• Far above threshold (>4x threshold) can lead to regimes in which signal and idler beams are simultaneously individually squeezed in intensity, i.e. not only would their intensity be quantum correlated but the individual beams could also exhibit sub-shot-noise statistics. However, this is typically spoiled by the classical noise of the pump laser and by cavity relaxation oscillations. This has previously been experimentally realised in microcavity OPOs [6], owing to their low threshold of a few μW, where low noise pump lasers are easily available. A relaxation-oscillation-free VECSEL ICSRO could potentially target the realisation of sub-shot-noise laser beams at relatively high power (100s mW).

Demonstration of quantum states of light from a compact, highly stable, ultra-low noise VECSEL-based OPO platform will allow for the creation of transportable lasers for tests in quantum imaging and sensing, such as spectroscopy and sensitive trace gas-detection.

In this project, we will demonstrate an integrated quantum memory for single photons with unprecedented functionality. This will be realised in fs-laser written waveguides fabricated in rare earth doped crystals [1]. Rare earth ions feature unique coherence properties both for electronic and spin transitions, making them ideal for high performance photonic quantum memories [2]. However so far, the efficiency for on-demand storage protocols with single photon level light has been limited to around 40% often with the aid of resonators [3,4]. Our chosen protocol instead has the potential of enabling ultra-high efficiencies, > 80%, without the use of optical cavities [5]. Rare earth doped crystals also possess massive multiplexing capabilities, being able to store qubits in various degrees of freedom, e.g. temporal, spectral, polarisation… [6]

In addition to these, our integrated design will allow us to enhance this capability by adding spatial multimodality, as different memories will be fabricated and independently operated on the same chip. This ability will be a crucial step towards the development of efficient local quantum photonic processors.

We will also fabricate integrated Bragg reflector to enhance even further the interaction of the light with the rare earth ions, and this will open the way to functionalities that wouldn’t be possible in bulk realisation, like a non-destructive detector for single photons [7].

Mass production of cryogenic quantum devices is crucial for scalable, reliable, and practical quantum technologies. However, in the current architecture of cryogenic systems, particularly in dilution refrigerators, the number of quantum devices that can be tested simultaneously is limited by the available electrical contact pads and wiring. This constraint imposes significant challenges to the scalability and integrability of quantum devices, including the reproducibility and reliability essential for practical applications. With the integration of hundreds or even thousands of quantum devices onto a single chip, a method that allows concurrent measurement in a single cooldown process becomes critical. This project explores the use of a cryogenic on-chip addressable switch network to tackle these limitations, specifically applied to hybrid Josephson Field Effect Transistors (JFETs). Hybrid JFETs combine Josephson junctions and semiconducting field-effect transistors, leveraging unique properties from both materials to enable tunable, low-noise quantum operations.
The on-chip electronic switch network enables sequential access to each device on the chip without requiring extensive wiring for each component, thus significantly reducing the space and cooling requirements of the setup. The student will be involved in designing the cryogenic circuit, developing protocols for efficient device measurement, and conducting low-temperature tests to evaluate device performance across hundreds of devices in one cooldown cycle. By contrasting the measurements of multiple devices, the project will enable a systematic analysis of scalability, reproducibility, and device uniformity. This approach will also offer considerable savings in evaluation time, energy, and cost—factors essential for future large-scale quantum technologies. Through this project, students will gain hands-on experience with cryogenic systems, large-scale electronic integration techniques, and quantum device testing, providing a valuable foundation in advanced quantum hardware design and characterization. This experience aligns with the growing need for scalable quantum architectures and will contribute to the field’s progress towards mass-producible quantum technologies.

The Glasgow Optics group is pioneering experiments on the interaction of spatially structured light with atomic vapours. Research on vectorial light matter interaction has seen an explosion in activities, powered by technological advances in generating vector light with custom-designed phase, intensity and polarisation profiles, and driven by the desire to transfer, store, and manipulate high-dimensional quantum information.

Most treatments of the propagation of light through a medium assume that the polarisation direction is restricted to the transverse plane. However, when light is strongly focused, three-dimensional (topological) polarisation structures emerge – including a polarisation component along the laser beam propagation which defeats usual methods of detection. Recently we have observed the 3D polarisation components in atom spectroscopy.

The objective of this project is to analyse the spectrum of strongly focused structured light in Rb vapour in specific magnetic fields. The goals of the project are: (i) to characterize the spectroscopy of Rb vapour in external magnetic fields with tightly focussed fields for a variety of polarisation profiles; (ii) to investigate the vectorial interaction of atoms with topological light; (iii) to explore the possibilities of designing next generation magnetic sensors based on the interaction of structured light with atomic media.

This project is aligned with a funded European project on vector magnetometry, as well as long-standing collaboration with researchers at Durham university, giving you access to additional international scientific exchanges.

We are excited to offer a PhD position that will develop practical, high-precision devices using ultracold atoms in quantum technologies. This project is geared toward creating a new generation of sensing and navigation devices based on matter-wave interferometry, with the potential to redefine accuracy in autonomous navigation systems.

Your Role and Key Objectives
• Develop Novel Devices: Work on integrated atomic-optical systems for rotation sensing, contributing to the future of compact, ultra-sensitive quantum navigators.
• Innovate in Atom Waveguides: Drive the design and construction of atomic waveguides that function as “fiber optics” for atoms, offering a controlled environment for coherent matter waves to travel and interact.
• Advance State-of-the-art in Sensitivity: Use optical ring traps and atomic waveguides to enhance phase sensitivity beyond what’s achievable with traditional gyroscopes.

Research Environment
The project will provide hands-on learning at the cutting edge of quantum technologies for sensing and measurement. During the PhD you will learn in the use of ultracold Bose-Einstein condensates (BECs) and methods that provide precision control over atomic wavefunctions. You will join a team of researchers that offers and inclusive, collaborative research environment. This project is part of a large, multidisciplinary collaboration on Chip-scale Atomic Systems for Quantum Navigation, and you will have opportunities to work closely with experts in atomic physics, optics, lasers, and nanophotonics.

During the PhD you will gain expertise in BEC interferometry, laser cooling, and chip-based quantum technology with guidance from a supportive research team. You will be supported in your professional growth. You will collaborate with national and international researchers, build valuable networks, and gain skills crucial for a future in quantum technologies. You will play a pivotal role in creating the technology foundation for next-generation quantum sensors, with potential for real-world impact

Further Details
The aim of this project is the demonstration of integrated atomic-optical systems for matter-wave interferometry. It builds on existing activities at Strathclyde in atom interferometry with coherent matter-waves and work on developing miniaturised technology for rotation sensing. An exciting geometry for this is the use of atomic waveguides, the analogue of fibre-optics for atoms, which would allow the atomic wavefunction to propagate in a near perfect environment. A coherent matter wave confined in a ring trap is formally equivalent to the coherent laser field in a ring cavity, known from the ring laser gyro. The interesting difference is that the sensitivity to phase rotation scales with the relativistic energy of the particle/wave involved. This scaling offers an increase in sensitivity per quantum particle of over ten orders of magnitude when comparing atoms to photons. There are many hurdles to a practical realisation; however, a significantly increased sensitivity seems achievable. Our research programme uses quantum gases, cooled to ultra-low temperatures to create Bose-Einstein condensates (BECs). These BECs are a powerful and adaptable tool for precision measurement, providing control over the atomic wavefunction in much the same way that a laser allows control over light.

In recent years, dielectric metasurfaces have transformed optical imaging by replacing complex combinations of optical elements with structured surfaces that are thin and highly efficient. This project aims to design optimized metasurfaces to distribute different photon states among multiple users while minimizing the number of optical components needed for quantum network development. The core concept is that metasurfaces, with their numerous scattering channels, can serve as the foundation for compact quantum networks enabling multiparty communication.

Throughout the project, students will develop a unique skill set in advanced photonics, quantum information, and machine learning-based inverse design, offering strong foundations for future career prospects. The project will be carried out in collaboration with the Atlantis group at INRIA, University of the Côte d’Azur, France, who will provide guidance on the inverse design of metasurfaces. The PhD student may also spend time at INRIA during their thesis work.

The nitrogen-vacancy (NV) defect in diamond is an optically-active colour centre that shows much promise for all-optical sensing. Its ground state is a spin-triplet that has been investigated as a potential qubit. The interaction of the system with the environment also allows detection of magnetic fields and, through the frequency shift of a microwave-frequency spin-resonance, temperature. Current measurements use pulsed control of the spin state of the NV centre to enact rephasing of the spin, allowing decoupling of the system from environmental noise while retaining sensitivity to the parameters being measured.

In addition, even when embedded in nanodiamond (typically diamond particles smaller than a few hundred nanometers), the NV centre retains the ability to be used as an effective sensor. Diamond is biologically inert, yet can be functionalised through surface chemistry modifications to target structures of interest within cells. Nanodiamond therefore offers an exciting route to all-optical, sub-cellular detection of biological activity.

Many biological processes of interest to a wide range of researchers involve local thermal effects (both endothermic and exothermic); sub cellular temperature sensing offers a powerful way to infer the activity of cells undergoing numerous processes. Furthermore, when performing thermometry with NV centres, there are effective ways to decouple the sensor from sources of noise within the system of interest. Excitingly, this approach enables correlated thermometry / magnetometry with the same setup and samples.

While NV centres are perhaps better known for magnetometry applications, sensitivity to noise-generating processes within cells poses significant engineering challenges that are being addressed by numerous groups, including those in this project proposal. Therefore, we feel that specialising on sub-cellular thermometry will offer a significant benefit to the training of the student in this project – they can quickly apply and develop quantum sensing techniques to biologically relevant questions.

With this project, we propose to build on our existing expertise with NV sensing to further develop the use of nanodiamond as a sub-cellular thermometer for applications in biological imaging. A key focus of the project will be ensuring that the hardware and sample processing requirements with be compatible with the needs for effective biological research. An existing, low-cost widefield NV sensing system will be expanded to allow investigation of biological systems while incorporating state of the art pulsed microwave techniques to improve sensitivity and reject noise. Anticipated systems of interest include mitochondrial activity within cells and the impact of photosynthesis on the local thermal environment within a cell.

This will be done through collaboration with biological researchers from the outset (local researchers in SIPBS and Jones), the development of flexible, comparatively low-cost, hardware that can be integrated with gold-standard biological imaging techniques, and a focus on interdiscplinary training. The latter will allow the successful candidate to develop a broad range of skills beyond those in their primary degree, and will also equip them for effective research in the highly interdisciplinary research that characterises much of the intersection of quantum technologies with the other disciplines we wish to see it embedded in.

Progressing quantum magnetometry in defence and security applications, such as airborne navigation and maritime situational awareness requires reliable low size, weight and power (SWaP) sensors to be used in conjunction with complementary sensing modalities (e.g. sonar, gravimetry, ground penetrating radar). Data fusion with these technologies makes new requirements for quantum magnetic sensors which are best addressed by development of devices exploiting microfabrication of optical-atomic systems to achieve better encapsulation and ruggedisation. Development of integration of light sources, polarising optics and detection into the microfabricated atomic cell will be a significant enabling step in the transfer of quantum magnetometers from an R&D prototype to a reproducible, reliable and scalable component. The development of these techniques will exploit recent advances in photonic integration. New research in optical magnetometry of use in biomedical applications, such as unshielded magnetoencephalography and transcranial magnetic stimulation, will also inform the development of novel sensing schemes enabling higher dynamic range and measurement responsivity.

By combining the development of fundamental underpinning techniques in microfabrication and atomic sensing modalities with production and trials for prototype devices, this studentship will generate exciting new results in sensor science along with carefully directed impact with end-users.

Join the forefront of quantum technology research with this groundbreaking PhD project focused on measurements of in-orbit quantum communications satellites. Leveraging the state-of-the-art Heriot-Watt Optical Ground Station (HOGS), this project aims to push the boundaries of secure communication by exploring the practical applications and challenges of quantum key distribution (QKD) in space.

Key Objectives:
1. In-Orbit Measurement Analysis: Conduct live measurements of quantum signals transmitted between satellites and the Heriot-Watt Optical Ground Station (HOGS). Analyse data to assess signal integrity, loss, and noise factors in the space environment.
2. Quantum Key Distribution (QKD): Develop and optimize QKD protocols for satellite-based communication. Investigate the impact of atmospheric conditions and orbital dynamics on the security and efficiency of quantum key exchanges.
3. Technological Integration: Collaborate with leading space agencies and quantum technology companies to integrate cutting-edge hardware and software solutions. Enhance the ground station’s capabilities to support real-time quantum communication experiments.
4. Simulation and Modelling: Further develop our satellite QKD modelling tool (Qrackling) to predict the performance of quantum communication systems under various orbital scenarios. Validate these models with empirical data from in-orbit experiments.
5. Innovation and Impact: Contribute to the global effort in establishing a secure quantum communication network. Publish findings in high-impact journals and present at international conferences to shape the future of quantum technology.

Colloidal perovskite nanocrystals (NCs, specks of semiconductor materials) represent an exciting frontier in solution-processed materials due to their size-tunable optical properties and unique quantum behaviour. These properties make perovskite nanocrystals ideal for a wide range of advanced photonic applications, including solar cells, light-emitting diodes (LEDs), high-speed colour converters, and laser technologies. A particularly intriguing area of recent research in this field has been the demonstration of superfluorescence from assemblies of perovskite quantum dots (PQDs).1

Superfluorescence, a quantum collective phenomenon, occurs when excitons (electron-hole pairs within the nanocrystals) align and emit light in phase, creating a coherent burst of intense light.1 We hypothesise that this collective effect also enhances the emission cross-section, allowing for more efficient laser devices even in the case of fast dephasing, with potential for significantly improved performance in both classical and quantum photonics.1

Building on recent advances,2,3 this research project will focus on the synthesis, assembly, and characterization of perovskite nanocrystals organized into supracrystals, hierarchical structures where the nanocrystals act as “nanobricks.” These supracrystals are highly ordered, densely packed assemblies that allow to investigate and exploit collective optical behaviours, such as superfluorescence and laser oscillation.1, 4 The overarching goal of the project is to fabricate and study these supracrystals to achieve superior light emission properties, reducing laser threshold requirements and advancing the state-of-the-art for fast, ultra-bright photonic sources. If successful, the project outcomes could benefit applications in optical communications, nanoscale sensing, and quantum photonics for next-generation computing and precision metrology.
Key objectives for this project include:

• Synthesis and characterization of perovskite nanocrystals and supracrystals: the student will develop and refine protocols for synthesizing perovskite quantum dots, followed by their controlled self-assembly into supracrystals.

• Demonstrating superfluorescence and laser oscillation: by carefully characterizing the photophysical properties of these supracrystals, the project aims to achieve superfluorescence and explore its enhancement via the cavity effect of a supracrystal. Laser oscillation will also be targeted, with a focus on achieving lower emission thresholds to facilitate highly efficient laser sources suitable for both classical and quantum optical applications.

• Investigating lead-free perovskite alternatives: to address environmental concerns associated with traditional lead-based perovskites, the project will explore the synthesis and integration of lead-free perovskite materials, such as CsCuX₃ (X = halide). This aspect will examine whether these materials can match the performance metrics of their lead-based counterparts, contributing to the development of safer, sustainable photonic devices.

The student will work within two research groups at Strathclyde (the Colloidal Photonics team at the Institute of Photonics and the Smart Materials Research Device Technology (SMaRDT) group in the department of Pure and Applied Chemistry) specializing in the synthesis of perovskite materials, quantum dots, and the photonics of supraparticle/supracrystals structures. This will provide a strong interdisciplinary foundation, enabling fine control over nanocrystal properties and assembly techniques. Leveraging expertise in material functionalization and nanoscale control, the project will push the boundaries of what is possible with perovskite supracrystals, paving the way for more efficient, robust, and scalable photonic devices.

Ultimately, this project will contribute to the broader effort of advancing perovskite-based technologies for next-generation photonic and quantum applications.

Is it possible to create a network of entangled artificial atoms? This PhD project aims to engineer and probe photon-mediated interactions between multiple quantum emitters in a solid-state platform.   The project: At the heart of photonic quantum technologies are photon-photon interactions, achieved when two single-photon wave packets interfere at a beam splitter. Example applications include distribution of entanglement among independent quantum nodes or multiphoton boson sampling. This project aims to understand the fundamental limitations to the indistinguishability of a train of single photons from single solid-state quantum emitter and then extend this to single indistinguishable photons from multiple quantum emitters which can give rise to entangled multiparticle states referred to as Dicke states. These photon-mediated interactions between indistinguishable quantum emitters can lead to cooperative emission, superradiance, and remote entanglement of the atoms. Our goals are to investigate fundamental questions in condensed matter physics and quantum optics while implementing a technologically world-leading experiment to scale-up the number of quantum emitters which can be deterministically entangled. The PhD project will be integrated into a collaborative team led by Profs. Gerardot, Gauger, and Malik at Heriot-Watt University.

But is it really quantum?  This question has been asked up and down the country throughout the UK quantum technology community and also internationally.  It is especially important now that we are starting to move beyond the academic investigation and prototype technologies towards the applied quantum technologies that are the principal aim of our CDT. 

 It is probable the question will be one of the most regularly asked by manufacturers, funders and consumers alike as we seek to introduce quantum technologies into the mainstream.  To answer it, and to do so with authority and clarity, is principally a task for our theoretical colleagues, for to be a genuinely quantum technology requires a proof or at least a demonstration that the same behaviours underlying the application cannot be realised using the familiar classical-physics based resources widely employed at present. 

 This project will seek to provide such theoretical proofs of quantum behaviours for a wide range of prototype candidate quantum technologies and devices including, in particular, those being developed elsewhere within the CDT.  Added to this more formal element will be the aim, and requirement, to explain at the appropriate level what the quantum behaviour is, how we know it is present and also why it is so crucial to the operation of our prototype devices.  Some of the tools we shall use will be derived from established methods within quantum optics and quantum information, such as coherent state probability distributions and Bell-CHSH tests of entanglement, but these will be tailored to practical realities.  Others will require more innovative tests: how, for example, can we demonstrate the quantum behaviour of a very weakly squeezed state of light using only photon-counting statistics accounting for the realities of small detection efficiencies.   

 In the longer term we envisage the information and demonstrations we aim to arrive at will be part of the customers documentation and contract terms for quantum-certified devices.  It may well be that this task will turn out to be one of the most important and certainly the most all-pervading one taken on by our theorists within the CDT.  For this reason, moreover, we can confidently predict that the graduated student will be much in demand. 

Realizing a quantum computer (QC) with hundreds of qubits in reasonable size is only possible if all related parts are brought close to qubits that are currently operating at cryogenic temperatures (CT). This compels the qubit control and readout part to also function at CT while being placed in the vicinity of qubits. Several technical challenges exist in designing and evaluating an energy-efficient readout and control circuitry, specifically in the digital processing part, to achieve a QC with 100s of qubits working at CT near qubits.

The control and readout subsystems of quantum computers require high-performance digital architectures that consume minimal power to ensure scalability and practical usability. Q-CryCoRe project aims to propose and model low-power digital control and readout section for quantum computers, leveraging principles from cryo-CMOS technology, voltage scaling, and advanced low-power circuit techniques. By adopting state-of-the-art methodologies, this project seeks to deliver an adaptable, efficient, and power-optimized design. Our solution aims to bridge the gap in scalable quantum control using Cryogenic CMOS circuits and systems. This project will not only help accelerate the existing work at UofG. Still, it will also pave the way to have dedicated digital system of quantum computers working on cryogenic temperature.

The objectives of the project are:
• Design a low-power digital architecture for the control and readout subsystem of a quantum computer.
• Develop accurate cryogenic transistor models for digital circuit design.
• Develop and integrate cryo-CMOS technology to minimize power consumption.

The methodology to be followed is presented below:

1. Literature Review:
• Conduct an in-depth study of existing architectures for qubit control/readout and cryo-CMOS technology.
• Examine the current state and challenges in quantum computing, focusing on control and readout mechanisms.
• Review low-power digital design strategies, including dynamic power reduction and static power reduction in digital circuits.
2. Design:
• Develop the architecture for low-power digital circuits tailored for quantum control.
• Create a detailed design for control logic circuits using multi-threshold CMOS and voltage scaling to minimize leakage and dynamic power.
3. Modelling:
• Model the designed circuits using HDL to capture the intended architecture and behaviour.
• Develop cryogenic models by modifying existing SPICE models for accurate simulation at low temperatures.
• Characterize the electrical properties of N- and P-MOS transistors in various CMOS process nodes at cryogenic temperatures to understand mobility changes, leakage currents, and substrate effects.
4. Performance Evaluation:
• Use EDA tools such as provided by Cadence to assess the functionality, area, throughput, and power consumption of the designed circuits.

The transmission and processing of information in many quantum computing, comms. and sensing systems rely on the use of photons. Most state-of-the-art systems demonstrations make use of free-space beam paths and bulk optics components to transport photons between nodes and employ efficient material nonlinearities in crystals to create interactions between them. These systems have been crucial in the demonstration of proof-of-concept experiments, but are not well suited to scaling beyond a few photon-photon path interactions, limited by the size of the components and complexity of their arrangement.

By moving to an on-chip environment, the mechanical stability, complexity and yield of photonic integrated circuits (PICs) enables the scaling of these systems by orders of magnitude1. Nevertheless, there are a number of open challenges that need to be overcome to meet the strict performance requirements of quantum systems in terms of loss, efficiency and operating wavelength range. In particular, many of the functions required on chip, including non-linear photon interactions or high-efficiency photon generation and detection, require different materials and have been developed at different wavelengths (e.g. high efficiency silicon detectors in the visible and low-loss circuitry and non-linear optics in the IR spectral range).
In this project the student will develop a new platform for non-linear photonics on-chip at UV to visible wavelengths. PIC platforms in Al2O3, and III-N materials will be fabricated in-house in the Technology and Innovation Centre cleanroom to produce PICs with low-loss and high-channel count. Integration of silicon single photon detectors and non-linear optical resonators with these PICs will be achieved using a custom, nanometre scale accurate, transfer print system developed by our group2. Through the heterogeneous integration of multiple, micron scale components on-chip, the student will realise photon transmission and processing circuits in mm2 areas that can be deployed in communications, computing and sensing applications3-5. By advancing this technology into the UV and visible range of the spectrum, the project will provide much needed hardware to interface scalable optics with solid state quantum emitters/memories on-chip, or for scalable beam projection systems for multi-site atom/ion trapping/addressing applications.

The student will develop skills in numerical simulation of guided-wave photonics including Finite Difference Time Domain and Eigenmode modelling, to design efficient optical resonators, power-couplers and material-to-material transitions. The student will be trained in the University Cleanroom labs to translate these designs into photonic chips using state-of-the-art laser lithography and reactive ion etching tools. They will develop world leading skills in transfer printing integration using the unique toolset at Strathclyde developed by our group, enabling direct pick-and-place of micron-sized optical components onto PICs. Finally, measurement of the chips will be carried out optical labs hosting advanced laser sources, single-photon detection systems and high-speed metrology equipment. The student will also benefit from complementary facilities in the Fraunhofer UK labs.

In addition to the CDT training programme, the student will be part of a cohort of researchers at the Institute of Photonics and will be supported in the development of professional skills in research communication, project planning and will have access to regular technical seminars, journal clubs and group social activities.

This project seeks to develop a dual-species platform for quantum computing and simulation with neutral atoms, providing a route to implementing active quantum error correction essential for future scaling beyond 100 qubits. This hardware will simultaneously provide a versatile platform for analogue computing and simulation due to the ability to independently control inter- and intra-species interactions, providing a route to performing studies of complex many-body physics as well as increasing the diversity of real-world optimisation problems that can be tackled using neutral atom hardware.

Over the last decade, neutral atoms have emerged as one of the most promising platforms for quantum information processing, with a major advantage over competing technologies arising from the ability to scale to large numbers of identical qubits as required for performing practical quantum computing. To date, several experiments have demonstrated trapping of qubit arrays with > 256 qubits. To couple neutral atom qubits, highly excited Rydberg states are used which have extremely large electric dipole moments giving rise to strong and controllable interactions. These can be exploited to perform high fidelity multi-qubit gates, with F>0.95 demonstrated for two qubits and intrinsic fidelities of F>0.995 for multi-qubit gates, or for performing quantum simulation of controllable spin models as required for studying materials or solving optimisation problems.
Whilst there has been significant experimental progress, a number of challenges currently limit scaling to larger array sizes for hardware based on a single atomic species. The first arises from finite vacuum lifetime due to collisions with background atoms ejecting atoms from the trap. For room temperature operation, this is typically 10s for 1 atom but means only 10ms for a 1000 atom array. This can be solved by moving to operation at cryogenic temperatures down to 4 K where the cold surfaces cause significant increase in lifetime upwards of > 6000 seconds meaning recovery of times > 6s even for 1000 atoms. The next issue lies in the long readout time for neutral atom qubits, typically requiring 10-50 ms to readout qubit states. With a single species, the cross-talk and scattered light mean readout is destructive across the whole array, with no clear pathway to performing local measurements required for error correction to reach fault tolerant operation.

This project will tackle these two challenges by establishing a dual-species neutral atom array within a 4 K cryostat to obtain enhanced vacuum lifetimes and providing the ability to perform measurement on one species (the readout qubits) whilst retaining coherent quantum states on the other species (the logical qubits). This provides a route to overcome challenges with local addressing and cross talk as the two species operate at optical wavelengths separated by 10s of nm.

The WEIR Group is a global leader in providing products and services that enhance efficiency, reliability, sustainability and safety in the extraction and processing of natural resources. These products experience harsh operating environments including high pressures, extreme wear & abrasion, and gigacycle fatigue regimes. Digitisation that can facilitate design-by-analysis of next generation components and optimisation of performance for current technology is essential to enable sustainable minerals extraction. Currently, the WEIR group offers a number of commercial digital solutions that use real-time data gathering to make informed decisions, boost operational efficiency with predictive monitoring and embrace cutting-edge automation. Quantum sensing offers the opportunity to gather data with enhanced precision that will improve the accuracy of current predictive tools such as AI or digital twins.

This project will investigate the use of quantum photonic sensors for harsh environments in minerals processing. The inherent durability and abrasion resistance of Silicon Carbide (SiC) makes it an ideal candidate for deployment into these environments, uniquely coupled to its maturity in wafer-scale microfabrication processing and ability to host colour centres with single photon emission and strong spin-photonic interfacing. Colour centres such as silicon vacancies and PL5-7 centres can be addressed at elevated temperatures through, for example, optically-detected magnetic resonance measurements to sense temperatures, magnetic fields and mechanical effects like material strain with high resolution and precision. As a wide-bandgap semiconductor, microelectronic and MEMS devices can be engineered on-chip to provide integrated control and monitoring capabilities of the quantum sensor. Further, the emerging quantum-grade SiC-on-insulator chip platform could provide an avenue for developing photonic integrated circuits to more effectively excite and read out sensors based on individual or small ensembles of colour centres.

Building upon the work of Dr. Bekker and Dr. Rossi in the field of SiC-based quantum devices, this project will aim to explore the use of SiC quantum microsensors utilising spintronic and/or optomechanical modalities for harsh environments in minerals processing. In pipelines and pumps this could be measurements of flow rate, slurry rheology, and pressure. For extreme operating regimes, as experienced by vibrating screens, SiC sensors could enable resonance measurements for adaptable smart screening or structural health monitoring. Imaging applications could be utilised across technology groups and stages of minerals processing to measure accurate real-time particle size distributions thus leading to improved performance data.

The PhD student will work closely with the business to identify the most impactful case study for the application of quantum photonic sensors. WEIR will provide guidance and access to current methods and equipment to aid the student in development of the quantum sensing technology. The student will develop and optimise a quantum device based on the identified case study, including involvement in device design and simulation; manufacture and fabrication; and testing and operational validation. The candidate will work within experimental laboratories and cleanrooms at Heriot-Watt and Strathclyde, and interface with WEIR through the Weir Advanced Research Centre located at Strathclyde.

From the first quantum computers to ultra-secure quantum networks, entangled particles of light play a key role in quantum technologies today. Perhaps even more interestingly, entanglement tells us something profound about the nature of reality itself. Entanglement is usually explored with the quantum versions of bits, or qubits, which are quantum states composed of “1s” and “0s.” However, quantum states encoded in the properties of a photon such as its position, momentum, time, and frequency can be much more complex, opening interesting new directions in quantum information science.  In this PhD project, you will explore new ways to control the spatial and temporal structure of light at the quantum level, and work towards the development of entanglement-based quantum technologies for communication and imaging. While the specific research direction of your PhD will be established during the first year of study, it will build on our existing research strengths in structured light, high-dimensional/multi-photon entanglement, complex scattering media, and noise-robust quantum communication. You will be supported if you wish to develop your teaching and/or public communication skills. During this project, you will develop significant expertise in theoretical and experimental quantum information science, with specific skills in programming, experimental quantum photonics, and entanglement theory. Throughout the project, you will have the opportunity to develop your communication skills and build your network through international/UK collaborative projects, publication of peer-reviewed papers, and presentations at UK/EU meetings and workshops. This position comes with the potential to travel and present your work at leading international conferences in the field. This PhD position is in the Beyond Binary Quantum Information (BBQ) Lab at Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh. The BBQ Lab is led by Prof. Mehul Malik and consists of a dynamic team of researchers working at the forefront of the quantum technology revolution. You will conduct your research in the extensive photonics laboratory facilities of the BBQ Lab, which is funded by generous grants from the European Research Council (ERC), the UK Engineering and Physical Science Research Council (EPSRC), and the Royal Academy of Engineering. The BBQ Lab has significant links to leadings group in the EU/North America, and benefits from substantial resources available through Heriot-Watt’s membership in the UK National Quantum Technologies Programme. In addition, we have an ongoing partnership with the NASA Jet Propulsion Lab (JPL) Caltech that includes access to state-of-the-art superconducting detector technology being developed at JPL. For more details on our research, please have a look at our recent publications: https://bbqlab.org/publications/.

Quantum Simulation seeks to gain fundamental insight into the behaviour of complex quantum systems, which underlie diverse fields ranging from materials science to chemistry and biology. New understanding can now be gained by modelling (or simulating) this behaviour with experiments that are controllable on a microscopic, quantum-mechanical level.
Within this PhD project, we will use ultracold atom in optical lattices in a quantum-gas microscope setup, with the capabilities of single-site-resolved atom detection. We will will build on new experimental capabilities in our setup able to generate arbitrary light potentials by spatial light modulators that are projected onto the atoms with a high-resolution microscope [1,2].
Within the first part of this PhD project we will apply our dynamically programmable light potentials in a new context: the study of Mott insulating states in quasi one-dimensional quantum systems. Our goal is to observe ‘rung’ Mott insulating states, which form in ladder systems at exactly half filling [3,4]. In such a state, atoms delocalize over each rung of the lattice while the overall many-body quantum state remains insulating.
We will create these quantum states using our unique dynamically controlled potentials. Initially, we will prepare a Mott insulating state in a one-dimensional chain between potential barriers. We will then move the potential barriers parallel to the chain by one site, effectively doubling the number of lattice sites while maintaining the same initial atom number. By adjusting the strength of the optical lattice lasers perpendicular to the chain, we can control the tunneling between the ladder rungs. Meanwhile, the strength of the optical lattice along the rungs will alter the ratio of tunneling to on-site interaction. This will allow us to map out a phase diagram and compare it with theoretical predictions [3,4]. Theoretical studies have already been conducted in our group and show the feasibility of these experiments within our setup.

In the second part of this PhD project, we will aim to laser cool and trap the 85Rb isotope instead of 87Rb. As 85Rb has a Feshbach resonance of the F=2, mF=-2 ground state at 155 G, we will be able to tune the scattering length and control the interatomic interactions. This will allow us to realise a two-component Bose-Hubbard Model, with different inter- and intra-species interactions, to study richer physics in the abovementioned ladder system. It is also predicted to exhibit an x-y ferromagnetic phase [5]. Control of the scattering length, in a way that it remains positive at all stages of the experiment including the transport is critical to avoid heating and losses of 85Rb during the multi-stage cooling and loading process. The experimental setup has been specifically designed maintain a suitable magnetic field during the transport. We will then employ the programmable light potentials to perform spin flips of atoms on selected lattice sites, enabling us to generate arbitrary initial distributions of the atomic spins. It will allow us to study out-of-equilibrium dynamics and perform local quenches. Further studies will include lattice geometries of a higher complexity such as Lieb-lattice systems and diamond chains.

The development of voltage-sensitive fluorescent probes has enabled the direct optical measurement of electrical activity in biological tissues. By measuring fluorescence lifetime instead of intensity, it is possible to avoid motion artifacts, a key limitation in conventional fluorescence imaging of dynamic, contracting samples like heart tissue. Lifetime measurements also capture sub-threshold events, providing valuable insights for studying arrhythmias and other electrical phenomena in cardiac cells. Recent advances in single-photon avalanche diode (SPAD) cameras, offering improved detection efficiencies, fill factors, and pixel densities, along with sophisticated computational techniques such as Bayesian inversion and neural networks, have opened up new frontiers for fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM). FLIM is a powerful tool in biomedical imaging, offering a unique view into cellular environments, molecular interactions, and tissue physiology. However, conventional FLIM techniques face trade-offs between spatial and temporal resolution, with most current systems able to achieve either high spatial resolution or high temporal resolution, but not both simultaneously. For instance, leading commercial FLIM systems achieve megapixel resolution but require up to 2 seconds for image acquisition, which is impractical for live tissue imaging. To address these limitations, we have recently developed a high-speed widefield FLIM system using a dual-gated, 500×500 SPAD array (SwissSPAD3), capturing images at a rate of 192 frames per second. By synchronizing this SPAD array with a high-resolution sCMOS camera and applying advanced upsampling algorithms, we achieve effective megapixel resolution with enhanced temporal resolution. This PhD project aims to further develop, validate, and apply this FLIM system to study cardiac contractility and cardiotoxicity in functional assays. Specifically, we will improve the microscope setup to combine high spatial resolution from a megapixel intensity camera with the high temporal resolution from the SPAD array, achieving picosecond time resolution at 500-800 Hz over fields of view ranging from 0.5 to 1 mm. These advancements will enable FLIM imaging with an unprecedented combination of speed and resolution, possible only due to the latest SPAD technology. The project will then apply this FLIM system to image human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived cardiomyocytes stained with voltage- and calcium-sensitive dyes. By monitoring fluorescence lifetime changes during cellular contractions, we will visualize the propagation of action potentials and calcium waves, capturing spontaneous electrical activity with minimal motion artefacts. These lifetime-based images will be compared with traditional intensity-based images to quantify improvements in motion artefact robustness and sub-threshold event sensitivity. In collaboration with our industrial partner, Clyde Biosciences, we aim to significantly advance cardiotoxicity assays and imaging-based functional contractility assays. Current protocols employed by Clyde Biosciences analyze cell motion and contractility in label-free, monolayer cultures, measuring electrical and mechanical parameters indirectly. Our FLIM system, by contrast, will directly measure electrical activity, overcoming limitations in throughput, sensitivity, and motion artifact resiliance. This project proposes a transformative approach that treats natural movement as a source of meaningful data, not an artifact, allowing for real-time voltage imaging during contractile activity. This project establishes and showcases the potential for next-generation FLIM systems capable of high-resolution, high-speed imaging, promising improved sensitivity in biological studies and paving the way for novel applications such as cardiotoxicity screening, regenerative medicine, and beyond.

This project seeks to develop versatile and widely deployable quantum sensors based on electronic spins in luminescent molecules.

By harnessing fundamental features of quantum mechanics—such as superposition and entanglement—quantum sensors offer new frontiers for detecting quantities ranging from magnetic and electric fields to strain and temperature. In particular, optically addressable electronic spins in solid-state systems have emerged as a promising platform for quantum sensing due to their ability to be coherently manipulated and sensitively detected, even at room temperature and at the single-spin level [1]. Such systems offer exciting prospects such as nanoscale magnetic-resonance imaging, opening applications from understanding biological systems to mapping the structure and dynamics of novel materials/devices.

To date, the most prominent spin-based quantum sensing platforms in the solid state have been based on crystal defects in wide band gap semiconductors such as diamond. While powerful, such systems face several challenges: firstly, since their properties are fixed by the defect/crystal structure it is challenging to tailor them for a specific sensing application; secondly, confinement within a host crystal limits their proximity to external targets and therefore their integration with devices and biosystems; and thirdly, precisely controlling their spatial placement is difficult, limiting their coupling to targets of interest. Housing spin-based quantum sensors in chemically synthesised molecules offers an exciting pathway to overcome these challenges: the atomistic tunability of molecular systems opens up quantum sensors that can be tailored to a specific sensing target, and their compact (~1 nm) size, modular nature, and scope for chemical functionalisation and self-assembly opens up versatile nanoscale integration with targets of interest.
Our work has shown that the key ingredients for spin-based quantum sensing can be realised in chemically synthesised molecules, including effective optical-spin interfaces [Science, 370, 1309 (2020)] [2], and room-temperature operation [Phys. Rev. Lett. 133, 120801 (2024)] [3]. Building on these demonstrations, this project seeks to advance the application of molecular spins as deployable quantum sensors. By combining coherent control, optical spin-state detection, and structure-function insights, you will experimentally investigate a range of candidate molecules with the overarching goal of developing nanoscale quantum sensors with unprecedented deployability. Through this multidisciplinary work you will develop a range of expertise including qubit control, spin resonance, and advanced optical spectroscopy; and overall, contribute to the development of novel quantum sensors.

Further information
This project will be hosted in the Quantum Optospintronics Group at the University of Glasgow, led by Dr. Sam Bayliss. Our group has state-of-the art capabilities including for cryogenic confocal microscopy, electron/nuclear spin resonance, and single-spin detection, and as part of a dynamic group—which spans solid-state physics, quantum engineering, and physical chemistry—you will have significant opportunities to shape an exciting research agenda.

The creation, understanding, and tuning of novel electronic and magnetic phases of solids constitutes one of the fundamental endeavours of material science and condensed-matter research. In this context, synthetic quantum materials based on lattices of strongly correlated electrons have been shown to host many exotic quantum phases of matter (such as high-temperature superconductivity or new magnetic states) when their mutual Coulomb interaction is similar or larger than their kinetic energy, with the resulting phase depending on a delicate balance between these two energy scales. The most famous theoretical model to understand and explore lattices of strongly interacting particles is the extended Hubbard model, which in its simplest form consists of a kinetic term defined by the nearest-neighbor hopping parameter (t1), and the on-site (U) and long-range (V) Coulomb repulsion. In the Hubbard picture, strong electronic correlations emerge for U>V>t, giving rise to very rich electronic and magnetic phase diagrams [1].

Despite its simplicity, the extended Hubbard model is non-trivial to solve in two or higher dimensions [1], and a wide range of techniques have been used [2,3]. Hence, experimental implementations of strongly correlated electron lattices have attracted a lot of attention as potential simulators of the Hubbard model. Such synthetic quantum materials can provide new insights into regimes not accessible by the current theoretical approaches and can guide the quest for novel exotic and technologically relevant phases of matter. A crucial requirement in a synthetic quantum material for its exploitation as a simulator of the Hubbard model is the in-situ tunability of the system parameters, which represents an experimental challenge in conventional solid-state quantum materials due to their limited range of parameter control. In this scenario, the rise of moiré heterostructures based on two-dimensional (2D) van der Waals (vdW) materials constitutes arguably one of the biggest and most exciting opportunities in the creation and manipulation of synthetic quantum materials [4-12]. Moiré materials provide an unprecedented ability to create Hubbard lattices with highly tunable length scales in the 1 – 100 nm range at temperatures corresponding to a small fraction of the exchange coupling (J) between neighbouring spins, which allow the exploration of regimes that complement those found in optical lattices and that have previously been unobtainable in ‘conventional’ materials. However, to unlock the true potential of synthetic moiré materials and navigate their phase diagrams at will, a new (still missing) functionality needs to be added: a wide-ranging in-situ tunability of the moiré lattice periodicity and geometry.

This experimental PhD project aims to pioneer the exploitation of controlled strain of moiré materials at cryogenic temperatures as a tuning knob to manipulate in-situ their lattice geometry and their emergent quantum correlated electronic, magnetic, and excitonic phases. We will optically probe the emergent quantum phase diagrams as the moiré lattice geometry is continuously tuned. Our unprecedented ability to in-situ tune and readout the energy scales of moiré materials with reconfigurable lattice geometries at cryogenic temperatures will guide the quest for novel exotic and technologically relevant phases of matter.

Superabsorption [1], the process by which an ensemble of atoms collectively enhances the rate at which it converts radiation energy into electronic excitation has been proposed in a variety of nanostructures such as arrays of quantum dots, molecular rings, and recently experimentally demonstrated with atomic [3] and molecular systems [4] where it was enabled by highly sophisticated control approaches. However, the exotic experimental conditions that were required present an impediment to harnessing the effect for practical applications.

In this project, we will study a promising different approach for realising superabsorption under much less demanding conditions. Specifically, we shall study a collection three level emitters inside a conventional microcavity. In this setup the necessary quantum control is provided by an external global microwave drive which allows the coherent suppression of emission pathways [2].

In the later stages of the project, we will develop blueprints for experimental exploration and implementation together with our network of experimental collaborators.
The realisation of superabsorbing devices will open up the prospect of a new class of quantum nanotechnology [4] with applications including photon detection and light-based power transmission.

Quantum computing (QC) research and development have reached an extremely exciting point. Decades of research by academia worldwide has brought us to the point where the commercial world is widely engaged. Despite this progress, there still exist major challenges for the development of practical and useful quantum computers. One of these challenges is the necessity of operating quantum processors at deep cryogenic temperatures [Krinner2019]. In fact, it is not trivial to generate the sophisticated control sequences made of multiple-channel high frequency signals at room temperature and timely deliver them to a quantum system which is located in a fairly inaccessible and vacuum-tight cryostat. A promising solution is based on the realisation of reliable cryogenic electronics that could leverage the vast existing manufacturing infrastructure currently dedicated to conventional integrated circuits (IC), i.e. the Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) technology. Cryo-CMOS [Pauka2021] could be a key enabler for the scaling of the main QC platforms because it would make it possible to tightly integrate control, readout and quantum protocols by avoiding the so-called interconnect bottleneck [Xue2021] with the room temperature control instrumentation. However, the operation of CMOS electronics at deep cryogenic temperatures requires stringent power management considerations, as well as a knowledge of the local environmental conditions of operation. In fact, each sub-component in a complex chip architecture may experience different local temperatures (even on the same chip) depending on the performed function and the amount of self-heating generated [Hart2021]. Such temperatures may all substantially deviate from the base temperature of the cryostat, and real-life operation conditions create a significant departure from what can be modelled using traditional circuit simulation methods. This PhD will focus on the development of experimental techniques for accurate on-chip thermal assessment and management. The student will address the following critical challenges: 1. Development of novel on-die thermometry techniques using diodes, transistor gate electrodes and CMOS-compatible superconductors. 2. Chip-scale thermal mapping based on local heat sources and sensors under realistic operational conditions for quantum computing. 3. Thermally accurate circuit modelling aimed at both quantum and classical chip designs This project is part of a long-standing collaboration among three key players of the UK quantum landscape: 1. the Quantum Technology Department at the National Physical Laboratory (London) 2. Quantum Motion Technologies (London), a rapidly growing start-up enterprise which develops silicon-based quantum systems 3. the Physics Department at the University of Strathclyde The student is expected to carry out most of the research activities in Strathclyde and will become a member of the Semiconductor Quantum Electronics (SEQUEL) Lab (https://sequel.phys.strath.ac.uk). However, extended stays at the other partner institutions for training purposes will be encouraged and funded.

The Edinburgh Mostly Quantum Lab (EMQL) specialises in the engineering of quantum light sources for applications in terrestrial and satellite quantum networking. Projects are available in quantum light source development (parametric downconversion or quantum dots), multi-party quantum networking with graph states, and satellite quantum communication. We are part of the Integrated Quantum Networks hub, and the project will benefit from wide-ranging collaborations with academia and industry.

This is a project in theoretical physics. Our goal is to understand the properties of low-dimensional quantum many-body systems in the framework of topological quantum field theories. We will in particular focus on the role of nonlinear and interacting gauge theories, and by doing so bridge the gap between condensed matter physics, particle physics, and gravity. We will do this with two physical platforms in mind, namely, ultracold quantum gases and photonic lattices. Both these platforms offer unique possibilities to study phenomena across a broad range of physical scenarios and provide a deeper understanding of the interplay between topology and gauge theories, closely linked to experimental realisations. By doing so we will address fundamental questions about Nature, ranging from microscopic descriptions of quantum matter to aspects of quantum gravity. The back-action principle is key in this respect. Prominent examples are electromagnetism and gravity where matter tells space how to curve, and space tells matter how to move.

Active radio-frequency imaging in the super-low and ultra-low frequency (SLF/ULF) bands makes complex demands of the transceiver system used. Conventional antennae trade size for sensitivity at low frequencies, which is incompatible with high-resolution imaging. Penetrative imaging at these frequencies is an important enabling technique for nuclear threat reduction, treaty monitoring and border security.

Quantum magnetic sensors break the size-weight-sensitivity constraint for magnetic detection in the SLF/ULF bands, as the magnetic signal is transduced by resonant detection on polarised alkali ground state Zeeman transitions, generating magneto-optical rotation. Signal generation by this process is free of the inverse-frequency scaling which degrades inductive measurement at low frequencies.

To realise these benefits in penetrative imaging, it is essential to separate with very high discrimination (part-per-million or better) the excitation field from the signal response. Magnetic gradiometry, utilising alkali spin maser techniques in a unique microfabricated caesium cell, is under development at the University of Strathclyde. The technique under development targets very high common-mode noise rejection (CMNR) by cancellation of common-mode systematics at source, ensuring the bandwidth, uniformity and linearity required for high CMNR.
By developing this device for penetrative SLF/ULF imaging, the requirements of AWE’s applications will be embedded from the outset, maximising impact in this important set of end uses. It is also important to note the value of high CMNR, high-sensitivity magnetometry in a range of healthcare and biomedical applications.

Optically pumped quantum magnetometers, exploiting long-coherence time magnetic resonances in the ground state of thermal alkali vapours, now offer sensitivity to geomagnetic fields (50 micro-tesla) at parts-per-billion (sub-pico-tesla) sensitivity, exceeding that of the best classical sensors by an order of magnitude or more. Recent developments at Strathclyde, using unique mass-produced alkali vapour atomic cells, chip-scale lasers, additively manufactured optomechanical housings and novel digital signal processing, have achieved this sensitivity in pocket-sized sensor packages.
One of the great advantages of quantum magnetometry based on alkali vapours is that these measurements uniquely combine sensitivity and an absolute measurement, calibrated by physical constants to a well-defined frequency scale. Classical inductive sensors suffer from irreducible thermal scale factor drifts, and proton magnetometers cannot be operated with sufficient bandwidth and sensitivity for a standalone measurement in most applications. Systematic elimination and calibrated vectorisation (using Serson’s method, or phase harmonic analysis, developed at Strathclyde) of alkali quantum magnetometers offers a self-calibrated, compact technology for measurements outside magnetic shielding.
Vector geomagnetic quantum magnetometers offer a useful sensing modality for the monitoring of explosions, space weather and resulting ground induced currents, requiring deployment of compact sensors, running remotely. This studentship will build on Strathclyde’s development of vector geomagnetic sensors in collaboration with the British Vector geomagnetic quantum magnetometers offer a useful sensing modality for the monitoring of explosions, space weather and resulting ground induced currents, requiring deployment of compact sensors, running remotely. This studentship will build on Strathclyde’s development of vector geomagnetic sensors in collaboration with the British Geological Survey, who, with their responsibility for the UK’s geomagnetic reference measurements, can offer gold-standard validation of geomagnetic instrumentation. The project will be strongly linked to AWE priorities in field trialling, with the deployment of compact instruments in relevant testing an early priority, offering valuable experience for the student and shaping further TRL-raising activity.

Originally discovered in liquid helium, superfluidity is an example of quantum mechanics on the macro-scale, where useful bulk behaviour (fluid flow without viscosity) arises from the cooperative behaviour of many tiny particles. This macroscopic quantum behaviour is found in systems as disparate as extremely dense and relatively hot neutron stars, and ultracold dilute-gas Bose-Einstein condensates (BECs), and has direct parallels to another important macroscopic quantum effect – superconductivity (flow of charge without resistance). This research project will explore the role that vortices, quantum whirlpools, play in both supporting and destroying such useful bulk quantum properties. In particular, the successful student will study the interaction between vortices and pinning potentials, of relevance to almost all superfluid and superconducting systems. Free vortices are associated with energy dissipation in both systems, meaning that engineering defects for vortex pinning is a key part of the design of high-temperature superconductors. On the cosmological scale, vortex depinning is expected to be at the heart of the internal dynamics of pulsars and neutron stars, offering an explanation for the peculiar glitches that are observed as the star slows its rotation. Superfluids formed of ultracold atoms provide an extremely clean and well-controlled system for studies of collective quantum behaviour in general, and vortex pinning dynamics in particular. They enable exquisite control over interactions, geometry, and vortex nucleation. Pinning potentials can be created with laser beams and arbitrarily reconfigured, and vortices can be directly imaged with standard optics and a camera. Importantly, in superfluids formed of mixtures of ultracold atoms we can tune the interactions to emphasize quantum effects such as fluctuations.
The successful student will join the Quantum Fluids research team, run by Dr Kali Wilson. They will work closely with the supervisor and other team members on a state-of-the-art experimental apparatus designed to explore vortex dynamics in binary superfluids. The Phd project will focus on (1) the design and implementation of optical systems for controlled vortex nucleation in the superfluid mixture, and (2) a comprehensive study of the interaction between vortices and pinning potentials.
The successful student will also acquire practical skills in the areas of quantum technologies, optics and atomic physics. These skills include working with lasers, designing optical systems, high-resolution imaging and state-of-the-art image processing techniques, cooling and trapping atoms, as well as electronics and mechanical design.