Job Information
- Organisation/Company: CEA-IRIG
- Research Field: Physics » Solid state physics; Physics » Quantum mechanics
- Researcher Profile: First Stage Researcher (R1)
- Positions: PhD Positions
- Application Deadline: 7 Sep 2026 - 23:59 (Europe/Paris)
- Country: France
- Type of Contract: Temporary
- Job Status: Full-time
- Hours Per Week: 35
- Offer Starting Date: 1 Jan 2027
- Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme?: Horizon Europe – COFUND
Offer Description
Context: The extensively studied notion of conservation of spin angular momentum by conduction electrons in solids is only a restricted part of a much larger story. According to Noether's theorem, angular momentum conservation is a fundamental property that emerges directly from rotational invariance; meaning it applies equally to other particles such as photons, phonons, and magnons, which can be classically represented as circularly polarized vector fields propagating with helical or rotational wavefronts. For photons, this topic has already attracted considerable attention due to its implications for telecommunications. This additional degree of freedom makes it possible to increase the maximum information transfer rate, for instance through mode-division multiplexing: different modes carrying different angular momentum propagate independently, without significant interference, owing to their orthogonality. These modes can therefore be modulated independently, increasing the maximum transfer rate in proportion to the number of modes used. In the quantum regime, angular momentum can be used to encode arbitrarily large nJℏ-quanta within a single state. While the total angular momentum can, in certain cases, be separated into spin and orbital components, most work has so far focused on the spin component, which reflects the circularly polarized character of vector fields (nS = ±1), while the orbital component has remained largely unexplored: a knowledge gap stemming from the broader difficulty of coupling directly to azimuthal waves with large orbital indices. The goal of this internship is to study these hidden azimuthal modes using a scanning NV-microscope, which provides exquisite spatio-temporal resolution. Our long-term objective is to develop a high-performance orbital-angular-momentum transducer between photons, magnons, and phonons, using a micron-sized, cylindrically shaped magnetic garnet crystal. Bibliography: T. Valet et al., PRB 113, L100410 (2026) and PRB 113, 104437 (2026)
Work program: The student will work on a home-built NV-center microscope, specifically optimized for spin-wave spectroscopy. Three patents have been filed on the original design, and the setup has already demonstrated unsurpassed spectral resolution. This project is particularly well suited to tech-savvy students who enjoy a hands-on, "nuts and bolts" approach to experimental physics.
Criteria: Applicants have to satisfy the EU MSCA mobility criteria i.e. they must have not spent more than 12 months in France during the last three years (i.e., between March 15th 2023 and March 16th 2026), not including holidays.
Where to apply
E-mail: oklein@cea.fr
Website: https://phdquantumgrenoble.univ-grenoble-alpes.fr/phd-application/application-form-autumn-2026
Requirements
- Research Field: Physics » Solid state physics — Education Level: Master Degree or equivalent
- Research Field: Physics » Quantum mechanics — Education Level: Master Degree or equivalent
Skills/Qualifications: The successful candidate will hold a Master 2 in Solid State Physics, Quantum Physics, or Applied Physics. Candidates with a strong instrumentation background and a demonstrated ability to design, build, and troubleshoot experimental setups from the ground up are particularly encouraged to apply. Experience in one or more of the following areas is desirable: microwave engineering, confocal microscopy, scanning probe microscopy, magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and scientific programming in Python. Prior experience with hardware electronics such as Raspberry Pi, Arduino, or FPGA will be considered an asset.
- Languages: English — Level: Excellent
- Research Field: Physics » Solid state physics
Internal Application form(s) needed: Application Form Overview -QuanG2.pdf (English, 2.54 MB - PDF)
Additional Information
Benefits: Gross salary prior to employee tax deduction is 2400€/month
Eligibility criteria: Applicants have to satisfy the EU MSCA mobility criteria i.e. they must have not spent more than 12 months in France during the last three years (i.e., between March 15th 2023 and March 16th 2026), not including holidays.
Selection process: This page outlines how candidates are evaluated and selected. It presents the recruitment procedure for QuanG2 applicants.
Website for additional job details: https://phdquantumgrenoble.univ-grenoble-alpes.fr/phd-application
Work Location(s)
Number of offers available: 1
Company/Institute: SPINTEC
Country: France
Contact
City: Grenoble
Website: https://www.spintec.fr/; https://phdquantumgrenoble.univ-grenoble-alpes.fr/phd-application/application-form-autumn-2026
Street: 17 avenue des Martyrs
Postal Code: 38054
E-Mail: oklein@cea.fr
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