Perform your Masters research project or internship in the EFEQT network

Location: IPCMS, University of Strasbourg, France Contact person: Dr. Guillaume Schull Group website: STM Group

Description: The objective of this internship is to characterize the emission statistics of single chromophore molecules acting as quantum-photon sources (SPSs). SPSs are systems capable of emitting photons one by one and are of major importance for quantum-information science and applications. Many fundamental questions related to the impact of their environment on their quantum properties remain to be explored. To this end, a novel nanophotonic approach based on a scanning probe microscope will be used that provides simultaneous spatial, spectral and temporal resolution. This project fits into the larger framework of the European ERC project APOGEE within the STM team of the IPCMS and may be pursue by a PhD project

Prerequisite knowledge: The candidate should have knowledge’s in light-matter interactions and/or condensed mater physics.
Internship period and planned duration: 4-6 months

Location: Laboratory Light, nanomaterials and nanotechnologies – L2n, University of Technology of Troyes-UTT CNRS EMR7004 Contact person: Prof. Christophe Couteau Group website: Lab website

Description: This project will consist in studying the coupling of light and matter between nanostructures such as nanocrystals and nanodiamonds and optical waveguides. This project aims at using a microphotoluminescence experiment for the study of nanostructures. Such an experiment will enable us to study single nanostructures as single photon sources. Using a pump laser, we will be able to excite a single nanostructure and then study the spectroscopic properties of such a system. In this project, the microphotoluminescence set-up will have to be able to perform at room temperatures as well as down to liquid helium (5 K). With such an experiment, we will be able to study specific properties of coupled nanostructures such as the coupling of a single nanocrystal with an optical waveguide. The waveguides are made of glass where the guiding is realized through a process of ion-exchange giving rise to a waveguiding region.

Prerequisite knowledge: a physics background is required and knowledge in quantum physics, quantum technologies, photonics is desirable and knowledge of experimental optics is a bonus
Internship period and planned duration: duration can be adapted from 2 to 6 months and the period can be any day, on demand.

Location: European Center for Quantum Sciences, University of Strasbourg and CNRS (UMR7006) Contact person: Prof. Shannon Whitlock Group website: Laboratory of Exotic Quantum Matter

Description: This project involves the design and manufacturing of compact and light weight cold atom sources for quantum technology applications based on 3D printed components. Both two-dimensional magneto-optical traps and Zeeman slowers will be considered, applicable to laser cooling and trapping of potassium and ytterbium atoms which will be integrated as part of a public quantum computing platform being built in Strasbourg. The project will involve numerical modelling of laser cooling processes, computer aided design, manufacturing, assembly and optical alignment of the cold atom sources. Integration and testing of the sources may be possible through a subsequent PhD project. [Image: Frontiers of Physics volume 9, pages 571–586 (2014)]

Prerequisite knowledge: Physics and/or engineering knowledge. CAD experience would be a bonus.
Internship period and planned duration: between 2 and 6 months.

Location: European Center for Quantum Sciences, University of Strasbourg and CNRS (UMR7006) Contact person: Prof. Shannon Whitlock Group website: Laboratory of Exotic Quantum Matter

Description: In this project you will help develop a high performance code for simulating quantum circuits using low level CPU instructions. Specifically we will investigate how Advanced Matrix Instructions implemented for example in newest CPUs can be used to speed up computations and to achieve comparable performance to what can be done using high end GPUs. [Image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Wstate_quantumcircuit.png]

Prerequisite knowledge: Quantum mechanics and C++ programming
Internship period and planned duration: between 2 and 6 months.

Location: Eindhoven, the Netherlands Contact person: Dr. Rianne S. Lous Group website: SintAQS

Description: Trapped ions are among the world-leading qubit platforms and prime candidates for quantum computations. In our group we are building a new experimental setup in which we will combine trapped ions with ultracold atoms. To fully benefit from the exquisite properties of the ion as a qubit, we will need an optimized detection system to read out its state. In this project, you will design, build and test an imaging setup with high numerical aperture to collect as much fluorescence from singly trapped ions as it is feasible in this setup. This will enable our measurements on the interactions between a single ion and a bath of atoms. Among others you will work on the lens system, laser-addressing of the ion and the read-out of PMT and camera. In this project you will gain experience on AMO physics, working with trapped ions, imaging techniques and lasers/optics.

Prerequisite knowledge: atomic physics, experimental physics courses
Internship period and planned duration: 4-6 months, starting from: Summer/Autumn 2023

Location: Eindhoven, the Netherlands Contact person: Dr. Rianne S. Lous Group website: www.tue.nl/rydbergQC

Description: Fault tolerant quantum computers are a stringent necessity for algorithms beyond the NISQ era. Quantum error correction allows for so-called logical qubits to be constructed from an ensemble of physical error-prone qubits. Such logical qubits have a lower error rate than its physical constituents. One promising way of encoding two logical qubits on a 2D array of neutral atoms is the toric code: a topological stabilizer code with the effective topology of a 2-torus. In this project, you will characterize the performance of the toric code on a neutral atom quantum computer. You are to identify the errors that arise in the system, such as radiative decay or coupling to motional states, characterize how well error corrections works for our system parameters, and compare to other codes or decoders. Eventually, this will lead to error-corrected operations such as the logical Hadamard and the logical CNOT that entangles the two logical qubits on the torus.

Prerequisite knowledge: quantum computing theory, atomic physics, preferably background knowledge on quantum error correction
Internship period and planned duration: 3-6 months, starting from: Summer/Autumn 2023

Location: Eindhoven, the Netherlands Contact person: Dr. Rianne S. Lous Group website: www.tue.nl/rydbergQC

Description: A neutral atom based quantum-coprocessor is being developed at the CQT group. To realize this, single strontium atoms are being trapped in space and cooled down to sub-µK temperatures. This requires varies laser cooling techniques like Zeeman slowing, laser deflection, magneto-optical trapping and optical dipole traps. During this project you will gain experience with the experimental construction and implementation of these various techniques.  After the Sr atoms are cooled and trapped, qubit states are encoded on the electronic energy levels of these atoms, which can be addressed with laser light. In strontium, the so-called clock state will be used, which requires the tuning of an ultra-stable laser with sub-Hz linewidth. This project will involve the designing and experimental implementation of these single qubit gate laser pulses.

Prerequisite knowledge: atomic physics, experimental physics courses
Internship period and planned duration: 4-6 months, starting from: Summer/Autumn 2023

Location: University of Amsterdam Contact person: PI Florian Schreck, Benedikt Heizenreder Group website: www.strontiumBEC.com

Description: You will help to develop a new kind of optical clock: a continuously operating superradiant clock. The frequency output of this clock is a laser beam, created by emitting light directly on the clock transition. This can be achieved by combining our ultracold atomic beam technology [Nature 606, 683 (2022)] with cavity-enhanced coupling of the atoms. One of the key ingredients for reaching this goal is highly efficient laser cooling. This project focuses on designing and constructing a new 689-nm laser cooling laser source. You will design and assemble the optical setup, and learn how to work with locking electronics. You will get the unique opportunity to not only work with an ultra-stable, high-finesse optical cavity and a spectroscopy lock setup, but also learn how to remove servo-induced noise to push the system to its absolute limits. This project will make you ready for many challenges in atomic, molecular and optical physics in your career.

Prerequisite knowledge: bachelor of physics plus one year of courses in a master track, ideally focused on atomic, molecular and optical physics.
Internship period and planned duration: master thesis, ~10 months, starting anytime, e.g. autumn 2023

Location: Strasbourg, Institute of Physics and Chemistry of Materials of Strasbourg (IPCMS) Contact person: Prof. Paul-Antoine Hervieux Group website: Quantum dynamics of nano objects

Description: This project forms part of a collaboration with chemists and experimentalists in Karlsruhe (KIT), with the aim of realizing quantum computing applications using single molecule magnets. Specifically, we focus on the theoretical modelling of higher-dimensional qudits that arise from the nuclear spins (and the associated hyperfine interaction) of rare-earth atoms embedded in these molecules. Addressing and manipulation of individual hyperfine states can be performed using microwave electric pulses. The latter can be shaped using optimal control techniques for quantum optimization and will enable faster, more noise-robust or low-consumption logical gates. The objective of the internship is to study this issue theoretically using different optimal control techniques.

Prerequisite knowledge: Good knowledge of Python and/or Mathematica and/or Matlab, good knowledge of linear algebra, quantum mechanics (ideally, but not strictly required, density matrix formalism and Louiville equations).
Internship period and planned duration: 6 months, March to August, anywhere in between for shorter internships.

Location: Glasgow, UK and/or Barcelona, Spain (remote participation) Contact person: Araceli Venegas-Gomez Group website: https://qureca.com/

Description: QURECA is the leading company providing the solution to the quantum workforce skills bottleneck: the first online platform for quantum training and resourcing, to support individuals and businesses to join the quantum revolution. QURECA has been training global communities upgrading their technical, leadership, communication and networking skills through online training courses, workshops and outreach programmes. QURECA is seeking an intern to be part of its quantum education and workforce development team who will create learning content, including lesson planning and evaluation, and short video tutorials for the target audience, proofreading content for errors and inconsistencies, editing and polishing existing content to improve readability; creating clear visuals to support content development; and writing informative blog posts and articles. The project is designed to empower our community of lifelong learners with quantum technology industry knowledge for global impact.

Prerequisite knowledge: Bachelor’s in Physics, Mathematics, Computer Science, Engineering or equivalent preferred. Experience in Python programming and writing engaging content and technical documentation.
Internship period and planned duration: 3 months, starting from May 2023

Location: Our team is hosted in the stimulating and multidisciplinary European Center for Quantum Sciences (University of Strasbourg and CNRS). Contact person: Dr. Tom Bienaimé and Prof. Shannon Whitlock Group website: Laboratory of Exotic Quantum Matter

Description: In this project, you will develop a standalone experimental setup to probe (2+1)D spatio-temporal photon correlations. The internship will involve the construction and the characterization of an optical setup as well as its hardware integration in python towards future integration on our ultracold potassium experiment. After its development, this setup will be used to characterize either (i) the strong correlations of quantum fluids of light when photons strongly interact after propagating through a cold gas of Rydberg atoms under the condition of electromagnetically induced transparency or (ii) to investigate new protocols for real-time monitoring and feedback of interacting quantum systems for studying non-equilibrium dynamics and qubit engineering. [image adapted from Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2020, 22, 19443-19453]
Prerequisite knowledge: Physics and/or engineering degree, quantum optics beneficial.
Internship period and planned duration: between 2 and 6 months.