Basic building blocks for quantum enabled technologies

Promotionskolleg im Rahmen der Landesgraduiertenförderung

Quantum mechanics governs the inner workings of many devices that we carry in our pockets as handhelds, that process our information in data centers, or that serve as advanced and economical light sources. Currently we are witnessing a radical change in paradigm: Fundamental concepts of quantum mechanics such as superposition and entanglement now serve as a resource to develop quantum enabled devices, such as quantum computers, quantum sensors, or single photon sources for quantum cryptography.

The Promotionskolleg "Basic building blocks for quantum enabled technologies" introduces early stage researchers to the key concepts of modern quantum technologies and quantum engineering. We address its interdisciplinary nature with topics ranging from quantum simulation, solid state spin systems, quantum metrology, quantum photonics to light-matter interaction with carbon nanotubes with an innovative recruiting and guidance scheme that is based on three tiers: Close supervision of the students by the principal investigators, a proven structured doctoral program established by the Heidelberg Graduate School for Fundamental Physics (HGSFP), and an Ideas Factory.

The aim of this Kolleg is that the tremendous insight achieved into fundamental concepts of quantum mechanics with cold atoms systems will inspire their application in actual materials with the vision that one day they might find their way into applications. While the progress in manipulating the microscopic quantum world by macroscopic tools raises a lot of enthusiasm both in industry as well as the scientific community about eventually realizing a quantum computer, there is a large set of ideas of how quantum mechanical concepts might be transformed into technologies in a more foreseeable future:

  1. Controlling the quantum state of a finite number of fermions with tunable geometry and interaction (main supervisor: Jochim)
  2. Low-dimensional spin systems for experimental studies on tunable quantum ground states in macroscopic materials (main supervisor: Klingeler)
  3. Quantum metrology with many-particle physics (main supervisor: Oberthaler)
  4. Dynamics of dipolar interacting Rydberg atoms and polaritons (main supervisor: Weidemüller)
  5. Trion-polaritons in carbon nanotubes as a model system for room temperature Bose-Einstein condensation (main supervisor: Zaumseil)

Open positions: For projects 2 (Correlated spins in solid state systems) and 5 (Detection and emission of individual photons to interface classical with quantum systems), applications are welcome. Please send your application with all relevant documents to the respective supervisor or apply via the HGSFP application portal. Please consider the admission requirements.

Links
  • Center for Quantum Dynamics
  • Heidelberg Graduate School for Fundamental Physics