PhD positions

We are looking for highly motivated students, preferably with a background in quantum optics or cold atoms, for several of our projects.  Your application should include a brief curriculum vitae, a letter of motivation with specific emphasis on ultracold atoms and correlated quantum matter and the names of two or more references.

Please contact Prof. Hanns-Christoph Nägerl directly with your application.

Bachelor/Master thesis

We have various openings for Bachelor/Master theses for students from the University of Innsbruck and also for external students.

Possible Bachelor Theses:

B1. Assembly and testing of a resonant MW antenna for potassium-39: A resonant antenna will be made for addressing transitions between the hyperfine levels of potassium-39, followed by testing and characterization in a lab setting. This thesis will include a study of impedance matching techniques and relevant literature on spin control in ultracold gases.

B2. Implementation of dark-ground imaging of ultracold gases: Measurements on ultracold gases are usually done by shining in a laser beam and imaging the shadow resulting from the atomic gas. An modified imaging technique will be set up which will allow for more precise measurements. This thesis will include the study of the relevant literature on imaging techniques in ultracold gases.

B3. Design of a magnetic coil system for the new K-Cs science chamber: We are currently developing a new apparatus for the K-Cs project that will allow individual imaging of ultracold molecules. As part of the infrastructure, a magnetic coil system for controlling the magnetic fields in the chamber needs to be set up. The thesis will be combined with a detailed study of the recent literature on the quantum control of molecules.

B4. Implementation of PDH lock and characterization of an optical cavity: Pound-Drever-Hall laser frequency stabilization is a very important technique in the Atom-Molecule-Optics field. One of the semiconductor lasers in the CavYt lab needs to be locked to an optical cavity. The free spectral range and the linewidth of the cavity need to be measured by analysing its output spectrum and the lifetime of the photons in the cavity. The thesis will be combined with a detailed study of the cavity and laser frequency locking.

B5. Mechanical Shutter Design: In this project, the student will develop a new home-build mechanical shutter based on a reference design and a servo motor, serving as laser shutter for low power. The project involves reading relevant literature, characterizing the response of the home-build shutter and optimizing its performance. The final design will be implemented in quantum gas laboratories.

B6. Characterization of a Cs Magneto-optical trap (MOT): In this project, the student will study the basics of a magneto-optical trap (MOT), analysing the data taken from the Cs MOT in RbCs lab, extracting the key properties of the MOT. The project involves reading relevant literature, data analysis with simple programming, comparing the results with typical numbers.

B7. Implementation of a lattice in the LevT-Rev’d: On this student quantum-gas machine, one goal is to implement fast laser cooling of Cs atoms all the way to Bose-Einstein condensation with minimal use of (slow) evaporative cooling. For this, a trapping lattice generated by a high-power laser needs to be installed. The thesis will include the study of the relevant literature on laser cooling and high-power semi-conductor lasers and on a rather recent MIT experiment on laser cooling to BEC with Rb atoms, see https://journals.aps.org/prl/abstract/10.1103/PhysRevLett.122.203202 and https://science.sciencemag.org/content/358/6366/1078.

B8. Microwave control of atoms on the LevT-Rev’d: A microwave system for the control of atoms and molecules needs to be installed and characterized for the LevT-Rev’d machine. It will be used to transfer the atoms between the various hyperfine states. The thesis will be combined with a detailed study of the recent literature on the microwave control of atoms and molecules.

B9. Implementation of atom imaging on the LevT-Rev’d: A newly acquired CCD camera needs to be installed and tested on samples of ultracold Cs atoms. The camera control and readout needs to be combined with the recently assemble control system. Some software needs to be written to automatically analyse and properly plot the data. The thesis will include the study of the relevant literature on atom imaging in the context of Bose-Einstein condensation.

B10. Realization of a setup for atom-number stabilization on the LevT-Rev’d: Experiments on atomic quantum matter greatly benefit from stable atom numbers. A significant part of the atom number fluctuations comes from the fluctuations in the initial magneto-optical trap (MOT) that is used for atom loading. A monitoring systems based on a simple photodetector shall be realized to stop atom loading at a specific fluorescence level. The thesis will include the study of the relevant literature on laser cooling and magneto-optical traps.

B11. Magneto-optical trapping and low-temperature laser cooling for the public: Our group possesses a comparatively compact magneto-optical trap (MOT) apparatus for demonstration/public outreach purposes to demonstrate laser cooling and ultralow temperatures (see also B3 below) as an important step for the generation of Bose-Einstein condensates (BEC).  It presently is located near the entrance to HS C. The apparatus shall be upgraded to allow the demonstration of sub-Doppler laser cooling. For this, dynamical detuning of the cooling laser’s frequency and switching/ramping of the gradient magnetic field need to be implemented. The thesis will include the study of the relevant literature on laser cooling and BEC, see e.g. https://science.sciencemag.org/content/299/5604/232.

B12. External control of the demonstration MOT: For the MOT apparatus for demonstration/public outreach purposes from B2 above, a web/phone interface shall be built and programmed to control the detuning of the laser and the magnetic field and hence the performance of the MOT so that spectators can “play” with the apparatus. The thesis will include the study of the relevant literature on laser cooling, magneto-optical traps, and BEC, see e.g. https://science.sciencemag.org/content/299/5604/232.

B13. Implementation of novel momentum-space imaging on the CsIII project: As part of the CsIII team, you will help in implementing and analysing a new imaging scheme that should allow us to much better resolve the momentum distribution of interacting ultracold atoms. The thesis will include the study of the relevant literature on imaging of quantum gases.

Possible Master Theses:

M1. Implementation of homogeneous trapping for Cs atoms: In most experimental realizations, ultracold quantum matter is confined to harmonic trapping potentials. This leads to a variation of the density across the samples, making comparison of experiment and theory difficult. In a first step, anti-trapping by blue-detuned light shall be implemented to compensate for the residual harmonic trapping potential for Cs atoms confined to a 3D lattice. For this, a laser system for the generation of the blue-detuned light needs to be set up and the light needs to be integrated in the existing apparatus. In first experiments, the strongly interacting one-dimensional Cs samples

M2. Atom manipulation via a spatial light modulator: A light modulation system for the generation of nearly arbitrary potentials for atom trapping and control shall be implemented. The thesis will start with an evaluation of the various possibilities and of recent implementations in competing groups. A test setup shall be built to characterize the system. Finally, the modulation system shall be added to the K-Cs apparatus.

M3. (possibly several master thesis projects) Setup of a new compact Rb-Cs double-species vacuum apparatus: A double-quartz cell apparatus featuring a double-species 2D MOT and a ultrahigh-vacuum science cell with high-resolution imaging capabilities (already ordered in view of long delivery times) shall be set up from scratch. In the long run, this chamber shall replace the existing Rb-Cs apparatus. In parallel, amplified diode-laser systems for Rb and Cs wavelengths will be installed. Laser cooling of first Rb and then Cs all the way to quantum degeneracy shall be implemented, similar to a recent demonstration by the Vuletic group at MIT.

M4. Design and setup of a cw infrared laser at 2129 nm: With the help of colleagues from Vienna a Cr:ZnSe laser system at twice the wavelength of 1064.5 nm shall be set up for trapping of ultracold molecules with the aim to perform precision collision experiments of ultracold ground-state molecules.

Please contact Prof. Hanns-Christoph Nägerl for more information. 

Postdoc positions

Candidates with a PhD degree looking for a postdoctoral research opportunity in the field of ultracold quantum gases and molecules are encouraged to contact Prof. Hanns-Christoph Nägerl to find out more about our current openings.

Internships

We offer internships for highly qualified and motivated students in physics beyond their first two years of study. Your application should include a brief curriculum vitae, a letter of motivation, and the names of two or more references.

Please contact Prof. Hanns-Christoph Nägerl directly with your application.