Theoretical Cosmology, Physics: Quantum Fields, Information, and Next-Generation Cosmological Probes

This PhD project will investigate theoretical aspects of quantum field theory in cosmological spacetimes, with a particular focus on the physics of the early Universe. It will explore the behaviour of quantum fields in expanding backgrounds, including particle production, the dynamics of cosmological perturbations, and the emergence of effectively classical observables from primordial quantum fluctuations.

A central theme of the project will be the role of quantum information concepts in cosmology. Notions such as entanglement, quantum coherence, and information flow offer new perspectives on the quantum-to-classical transition, as well as on the structure and evolution of quantum correlations generated during the early Universe. These questions will be addressed using frameworks from open quantum systems, decoherence, and non-equilibrium quantum dynamics, providing a unified description of quantum fields interacting with a cosmological environment.

The project will further aim to connect these theoretical developments with potential observable signatures. In particular, it will investigate how quantum information–theoretic features may be encoded in cosmological and astrophysical observables, and how they could be accessed through next-generation probes, including gravitational-wave observatories, measurements of the cosmic microwave background, and emerging concepts inspired by quantum sensing technologies.

The research will be primarily theoretical, relying on analytical methods from quantum field theory, general relativity, and cosmology, with interdisciplinary links to statistical physics and quantum information theory.

Funding Notes

UK fee eligible applicants only

Due to funding restrictions, this scholarship is open to applicants eligible to pay tuition fees at the UK rate only, as defined by UKCISA (Full list of categories for HE in Wales)

This scholarship covers the full cost of tuition fees and an annual stipend at UKRI rate (currently £21,805 for 2026/27).

Additional research expenses of up to £1,000 per year will also be available.