Microwave quantum memories

Prof J Morton

Applications accepted all year round

Funded PhD Project (Students Worldwide)

About the Project

Hybrid quantum systems offer the exciting potential to connect different types of quantum systems together to exploit their respective strengths, for example superconducting qubits are well-suited for quantum logic gates while electron spins have coherence times that can be several orders of magnitude longer, exceeding seconds. Both systems operate in the microwave domain, providing opportunities to develop spin-based microwave quantum memories where highly coherent spins are strongly coupled to high Q-factor superconducting cavities to act as storage registers for superconducting qubits. The project will study the materials, circuit designs and protocols required to produce such high efficiency long-lived microwave quantum memories.

You’ll work on:

• Measuring and optimising the coherence times of spin defects in materials systems
• Developing and validating superconducting resonator and circuit designs for the strong coupling of spin-based memories to resonators
• Demonstrating and optimising techniques for microwave photon storage and retrieval within spin-based memories.

Duration of study: Full time - 4 years fixed term

Application deadline: Until a suitable candidate is found

Primary Supervisor: Prof John JL Morton, Professor in London Centre for Nanotechnology and Department of Electronic & Electrical Engineering, University College London (UCL)

Who should apply

We’re seeking talented, driven, and curious individuals from a physical science or engineering background. Preferred experience (e.g. from a Masters project) includes one or more of the following:

• Magnetic resonance
• RF or microwave systems
• 2D materials
• Quantum technologies & quantum control

We value creativity and technical ambition — if you’ve got big ideas, we want to hear them.

Funding

This is a fully funded 3.5-year studentship. These studentships are open to those with Home and International fee status (including EU).

Eligibility

The candidate should meet the entry requirements of PhD programme at the UCL EEE: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/prospective-students/graduate/research-degrees/electronic-and-electrical-engineering-mphil-phd

How to apply

Applications must be made using the UCL online application system by using the UCL postgraduate study application form. Please mark it for the attention of Prof John Morton. Applicants are encouraged to write a brief summary of research interests (max 200 words) to describe how their background fits the PhD projects. New ideas relevant to the research field are welcome.