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. Numerical Simulation of Full Many-Body 1D Dynamics: In this project, you will simulate the time-evolution of quantum systems. You will gain a deep, visual, and intuitive understanding of quantum dynamics that purely analytical or experimental projects rarely offer.

B2. Designing and analysing an RF-dressed bubble trap for 133 Cs atoms, starting from atomic Zeeman structure and ending with experimentally relevant trap parameters.

B3. Theoretical study of a BEC in driven double-well potential: The project aims for you to study the tunnelling dynamics of BEC in the presence of a periodic driving. It consists of a theory revision of the Gross-Pitaeskii equation, Floquet theory accompanied with numerical simulations.

B4. Quantum kicked rotor: Anderson localization in momentum space. Anderson localization is a phenomenon observed for electrons in a disordered potential. An analog can be replicated in momentum space for a quantum mechanical setup with cold atoms. This shows the power of quantum simulations using cold atoms, allowing to study rich physics observable in condensed matter systems. The project aims to study BEC theory, Floquet theory, quantum chaos and classicality. Consists of doing a theory review accompanied with numerical simulations.

B5. Exploring quantum fluids with fractional quantum statistics. Anyons are quasiparticles that are neither bosons nor fermions: instead, they obey fractional quantum statistics. Recently, 1D anyons were realized in cold atom experiments. We want to further explore these systems by measuring how excitations (e.g. sound waves, bound states) travel in such systems. 

B6. 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.

B7. 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.

B8. 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.

B9. 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.

B10. 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.

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.