Nanophysics, nanophotonics, 2D materials and van der Waals heterostructures,, surface physicss, new electronic states of matter
Type de stage
Théorique, numérique
Description
Des calculs numériques ab initio, basés sur la théorie de la fonctionnelle de la densité (DFT), seront réalisés pour analyser la structure de bandes d'alliages (Bi,Sb)(Te,Se). Les propriétés de ces cristaux massifs seront tout d’abord étudiées en fonction de leur composition chimique. Pour les compositions les plus intéressantes, la structure électronique au voisinage de l’interface avec une électrode sera également calculée. Les calculs DFT aideront à comprendre les paramètres clés qui permettent le contrôle des propriétés électroniques essentielles pour les applications, qu’il s’agisse de la valeur des masses effectives, de l’alignement des bandes au voisinage des interfaces, ou de la position du niveau de Fermi vis-à-vis des différentes bandes. Une fois calculées, les caractéristiques importantes des alliages (Bi,Sb)(Te,Se) et de leurs interfaces pourront directement être comparées avec des mesures de transport réalisées au LNCMI, ce qui contribuera à interpréter ces résultats expérimentaux.
Calculs ab initio de la stabilité et des propriétés électroniques d’oxydes NdNiO3-x pour applications neuromorphiques
Domaines
Condensed matter
Nanophysics, nanophotonics, 2D materials and van der Waals heterostructures,, surface physicss, new electronic states of matter
Type de stage
Théorique, numérique
Description
Au cours de ce stage, nous proposons de calculer numériquement les propriétés physiques (structure atomique et électronique, moments magnétiques de spin et orbitaux) de l’oxyde NdNiO3. Nous étudierons ensuite la stabilité thermodynamique de phases NdNiO3-x (0 < x < 1), en fonction de la distribution des lacunes d’oxygène et des déformations structurales induites par la présence de ces défauts. L’objectif principal de ce stage sera de comprendre le lien étroit qui relie les distorsions atomiques générées dans les possibles phases de l’oxyde NdNiO3-x et la modification de leurs propriétés électroniques par rapport à celles du cristal parfait NdNiO3.
Towards entanglement between relativistic electrons and photons mediated by plasmons
Domaines
Condensed matter
Quantum information theory and quantum technologies
Quantum optics
Nanophysics, nanophotonics, 2D materials and van der Waals heterostructures,, surface physicss, new electronic states of matter
Type de stage
Expérimental et théorique
Description
Quantum coherence, central to modern physics, underlies phenomena such as entanglement and Rabi oscillations, which lack classical analogues. This internship aims to explore a fundamental open question: can a relativistic free electron be entangled with a photon through its interaction with a plasmon? The project, which may evolve into a PhD thesis, combines experimental, instrumental, and theoretical efforts to reveal temporal correlations between ~100 keV electrons and photons mediated by surface plasmons. Using a scanning transmission electron microscope, a nanoscale electron probe will be positioned with nanometric precision on specially designed chiral plasmonic structures that emit circularly polarized photons at specific plasmonic resonances. Preliminary calculations indicate that in these conditions, each inelastic electron acquires a defined orbital angular momentum and becomes nearly perfectly entangled with a circularly polarized photon. The internship will focus on performing correlation measurements between electrons and photons to probe this entanglement, including tests of Bell inequality violations. These experiments will leverage a unique combination of advanced instrumentation, tailored nanostructures, and state-of-the-art detectors available in our group.
Coherent control of artificial atoms with relativistic electrons
Domaines
Condensed matter
Quantum information theory and quantum technologies
Quantum optics
Nanophysics, nanophotonics, 2D materials and van der Waals heterostructures,, surface physicss, new electronic states of matter
Type de stage
Expérimental et théorique
Description
Nano-optics explores optical phenomena occurring far below the diffraction limit of light. To overcome this limit, new concepts and techniques have emerged, among which the use of fast electrons—traveling at about half the speed of light—has proven uniquely powerful for probing the optical properties of nanomaterials. Our team has been a pioneer in this field, using electron energy-loss spectroscopy (EELS) and cathodoluminescence (CL) to study a wide range of excitations in solids, from phonons to excitons, with unprecedented spatial and spectral resolution. More recently, we have developed energy-gain spectroscopy (EEGS), which combines the picometer-scale spatial precision of fast electrons with the sub-µeV spectral resolution of a laser. This innovation enables the investigation of quantum-optical systems such as ultra-high-finesse optical cavities. However, a key question remains open: can we coherently study and manipulate optical states in atomic or quasi-atomic systems such as quantum dots using relativistic electrons? The aim of this internship, potentially leading to a PhD, is to explore this new regime of coherent control of artificial atoms with electron beams. The project will take place on a unique platform coupling a monochromated transmission electron microscope with a laser system and custom-designed lithographic samples, opening unprecedented perspectives in quantum nano-optics.
This project explores a new experimental platform combining single-atom control with cavity-mediated long-range interactions. Using an array of optical tweezers inside a high-finesse optical microcavity, we aim to engineer and study entangled many-body states of cold atoms with single-particle resolution. The system opens exciting perspectives for quantum simulation of spin transport under tunable disorder and dissipation, as well as for quantum-enhanced metrology. Depending on progress, the internship will focus on real-time tweezer control or cavity-assisted Raman transitions. The student will join a dynamic team at LKB and gain hands-on experience in optics, lasers, cold atoms, and cavity QED physics.
Towards neuromorphic applications with 2D ferroelectrics materials
Domaines
Condensed matter
Low dimension physics
Nouveaux états électroniques de la matière corrélée
Quantum information theory and quantum technologies
Nanophysics, nanophotonics, 2D materials and van der Waals heterostructures,, surface physicss, new electronic states of matter
Type de stage
Expérimental et théorique
Description
The 2D+ Research Group at CRHEA, located on the French Riviera near Nice, France, is seeking a highly motivated and talented master candidate to join our cutting-edge research in nanophotonics with 2D materials. We offer a unique opportunity to explore emerging phenomena such as sliding ferroelectricity, ultra-low-threshold nonlinear photonics, and exciton engineering. The project is part of the European-funded 2DFERROPLEX consortium, bringing together leading experts in the field.
Nanophysics, nanophotonics, 2D materials and van der Waals heterostructures,, surface physicss, new electronic states of matter
Type de stage
Expérimental
Description
Coupling quantum emitters to the optical modes of a photonic lattice creates new opportunities for engineering exotic quantum light sources and developing novel quantum simulators with long-range interactions. It would allow studying non-classical states with spread entanglement and the implementation of strongly correlated phases of light.
The main goal of this internship is to experimentally study the optical properties of quantum emitters coupled to a lattice of We have recently implemented an open cavity system with embedded individual molecules of DBT. Each molecule is a two-level system whose excitation couples to light.
The internship will consist in the characterization of the open cavity with quantum emitters and the study of superradiance and subradiance effects, which have never been observed in the context of lattice dynamics.
We are developing new techniques to measure the magnetic resonance spectrum of individual molecules. For that, we use microwave photon counting at millikelvin temperatures based on superconducting qubits.
Machine learning-assisted study of nuclear quantum effects in 2D noble gas clusters
Domaines
Condensed matter
Statistical physics
Low dimension physics
Nanophysics, nanophotonics, 2D materials and van der Waals heterostructures,, surface physicss, new electronic states of matter
Type de stage
Théorique, numérique
Description
The proposed thesis focuses on the implementation of the nested sampling method, a machine learning method issued from Bayesian statistics, for exploring complex potential energy landscapes of condensed matter systems that include nuclear quantum effects. As a benchmark test system, Lennard-Jones clusters in 2D will be considered. The theoretical findings will directly be compared to the recent experimental measurements of noble gas clusters confined in a graphene sandwich. The nuclear quantum effects are evaluated using the Feynman path integral formalism.
Recently, a new type of clock has been proposed: the active clock using superradiant lasing. Instead of shining a very stable laser onto ultracold atoms to probe the atom resonance frequency (and thus measure time), the clock would operate by letting the atoms themselves emit light. The light coherence will be set by a collective synchronization of the atomic dipoles with each other - a process called superradiance. Thus, in addition to its significance as a new clock architecture, this system is interesting from a fundamental point of view: it is an example of an open-dissipative system in which correlations of quantum nature may naturally arise.
We have built a prototype for such a cold-atom-based superradiant laser. We want to tackle the unresolved issue of sustaining continuously a superradiant emission. The construction of the apparatus is completed. Throughout the PhD project, we will investigate the light properties to understand how the emitters synchronize their oscillations, and how the light coherence is related to correlations between all atomic emitters. Our experiment will have the unique capability to explore several distinct superradiant emission regimes, that will be identified through the spectral and correlation properties of the light and of the atoms. In collaboration with metrology experts, we will contribute to assessing the metrological interest (i.e., “performance” criteria to act as a clock) of atomic-beam continuous superradiant lasers.
The internship will address some aspects of the physics of ultracold atoms confined in quantum waveguides, in a regime where their dynamics is quasi-one-dimensional and does not obey the usual paradigms of many-body physics in 3D.
How robust the collective emission of coupled emitters is against dephasing processes.
Domaines
Quantum optics
Non-linear optics
Type de stage
Théorique, numérique
Description
Les effets collectifs en émission de photons apparaissent lorsque des atomes (ou des boites quantiques) sont suffisamment proches les uns des autres. Dans ce contexte, des modes collectifs se forment, pouvant être soit superradiants (fortement couplés au rayonnement), soit sous-radiants (faiblement couplés au rayonnement). La manipulation de ces modes revêt un intérêt majeur pour de nombreuses applications, où l’objectif est de contrôler en temps réel l’intensité de l’interaction entre la lumière et la matière.
Les arrangements de boites quantiques sont particulièrement prometteurs à cet égard, car ils permettent un positionnement avec une précision de l’ordre de la dizaine de nanomètres. Cependant, à température ambiante, les boites quantiques subissent un déphasage pur, phénomène qui tend à détruire les effets collectifs. Ce stage vise à étudier théoriquement la compétition entre les effets collectifs d’émission et le déphasage pur.
Ce stage peut-être prolongé en thèse, dont le financement est deja assuré par l'ANR.
contact: nikos.fayard@ens-paris-saclay.fr
New experimental methods for Nuclear Magnetic Resonance in ferromagnetic heterostructures
Domaines
Condensed matter
Quantum information theory and quantum technologies
Metrology
Type de stage
Expérimental
Description
Nuclear Magnetic Resonance is very commonly used in chemistry or biology however
Its use for studying ferromagnetic materials is much more confidential. The reason is that
when performed on ferromagnets, the NMR signal shows specific properties that require the
development of dedicated experimental set ups as well as analyses methods. Therefore, to
describe this technique an alternate name is often used: Ferromagnetic Nuclear Resonance
(FNR). The spectrometers and methods developed in the team during the last decades [1]
allowed successfully studying the structure the morphology and the magnetic properties of
ferromagnetic materials ranging from new permanent magnets [2] to multilayers, thin films and hybrid heterostructures [3].
In order to further increase our understanding in the properties of ferromagnetic systems we have developed very recently a new state of the art FNR spectrometer that opens up a completely new and very broad field of investigation for FNR.
For this project we will focus on metal/organic heterostructures. The samples will be grown in the UHV system of the laboratory and analyzed with conventional techniques (XRD, Magnetometry…) simultaneously to the development of new spin polarization FNR sequences. New analyses methods and accompanying software might have to be developed
also.
Nanophysics, nanophotonics, 2D materials and van der Waals heterostructures,, surface physicss, new electronic states of matter
Type de stage
Expérimental
Description
Many hardware platforms exist to implement qubit operations for quantum technologies, but these platforms, although conceptually elegant, do not offer a straightforward path toward consumer applications in terms of energy/resource usage (#QEI). To address this challenge, we propose a new platform: the quantum spintronic qubit device. It contains an atomic paramagnetic atom that electronically interacts with a simple ferromagnetic metal across a fully spin-polarized interface (‘spinterface’, see panel a). Thanks to its solid-state implementation, this qubit paradigm offers many advantages: large/built-in magnetic field, spintronic initialization/manipulation/readout of the qubit (panel a), potential for room-temperature operation, built-in entanglement.
Beyond first successes in the areas of quantum information and energy harvesting, we propose as a Masters 2 project to further mature this platform by continuing promising magnetotransport experiments across a CoPc-borne qubit embedded into a molecular spintronic nanojunction. The project’s samples will be grown and processed into nanojunctions by Jan 2026, and the M2 candidate will oversee the measurements in close interactions with the research team.
A tunable optical lattice for ultra-cold quantum gases
Domaines
Quantum gases
Type de stage
Expérimental
Description
The Master 2 internship aims at conceiving, realizing and testing a tunable optical
lattices. The conception of the optical system realizing the tunable lattice will carefully
consider optimizing the lattice depth and homogeneity, as well as easing the tuning of the
lattice configuration on the experiment. Numerical calculations of the physical parameters
of the tunable lattice in the various configurations (e.g. tunnelling amplitude, on-site
interaction energy) will be realized, to prepare the appropriate choice of parameters of the
future studies. A substantial part of the internship will be dedicated the experimental
characterization of the laser source used to create the tunable lattice. A self-heterodyne
interferometer will be built on a test bench to precisely measure the phase noise of the
laser, the latter being the most sensitive property affecting the lattice potential that results
from interferences between retroflected laser beams.
Étude expérimentale des propriétés électroniques et magnétiques du RuCl₃
Domaines
Condensed matter
Nouveaux états électroniques de la matière corrélée
Type de stage
Expérimental
Description
Depuis leur découverte en 2017, les matériaux bidimensionnels (2D) magnétiques suscitent un fort intérêt
scientifique et technologique. Ces matériaux offrent une plateforme unique pour étudier le magnétisme à
l’échelle 2D, où les fluctuations thermiques s’opposent à l’ordre magnétique à longue portée. Parmi eux, RuCl₃
se distingue par ses propriétés électroniques et magnétiques intrigantes et par la possibilité de former des
hétérostructures pouvant présenter des effets ferroélectriques. Le stage vise à explorer les propriétés électroniques et
magnétiques du RuCl₃, ainsi que de ses hétérostructures, en se concentrant sur des mesures de transport électronique à basse
température et sous champ magnétique. La ou le stagiaire : 1. préparera des échantillons en exfoliant des cristaux
massifs du RuCl₃, 2 fabriquera des dispositifs microélectroniques à base de couches exfoliées, 3.réalisera des mesures de transport électronique à températures cryogéniques et sous haut champ magnétique pour explorer les propriétés magnétiques, électroniques et ferroélectriques des matériaux.
Intégration à grande échelle de matériaux 2D pour des applications optoélectroniques
Domaines
Condensed matter
Nanophysics, nanophotonics, 2D materials and van der Waals heterostructures,, surface physicss, new electronic states of matter
Type de stage
Expérimental
Description
Les matériaux bidimensionnels (2D), tels que le graphène, constituent une nouvelle classe de cristaux d’un atome d’épaisseur dotés de propriétés optiques et électriques spectaculaires. L’un des principaux obstacles au développement de technologies basées sur des matériaux 2D est le manque de procédés de fabrication à grande échelle. Le développement de procédés de production fiables permettrait de libérer le
potentiel des matériaux 2D pour toute une gamme de technologies.
Ce stage vise à développer de nouveaux procédés de fabrication afin d’intégrer des matériaux 2D dans des dispositifs hautes performances à l'échelle de la tranche. L'un des principaux objectifs du ce stage est de développer un procédé à grande échelle
permettant de transférer des matériaux 2D sur divers substrats sans les endommager. Le projet de ce stage vise également à améliorer les étapes de micro/nanofabrication nécessaires pour intégrer les matériaux 2D transférés dans des dispositifs optoélectroniques hautes performances. En collaboration avec des partenaires
universitaires et industriels (Teledyne-DALSA), ces dispositifs seront ensuite caractérisés et utilisés dans divers prototypes technologiques, notamment des simulateurs quantiques et des circuits intégrés photoniques.
Quantum information theory and quantum technologies
Type de stage
Expérimental
Description
Les avancées récentes en physique quantique ont ouvert de nouvelles perspectives fascinantes, permettant
un contrôle sans précédent des degrés de liberté quantiques dans divers systèmes tels que les atomes
froids, les dispositifs micromécaniques et les boîtes quantiques. Grâce à ce contrôle, nous pouvons
aujourd’hui créer et manipuler des systèmes hybrides quantiques de plus en plus complexes. Ces
systèmes, combinant plusieurs types de degrés de liberté quantiques, offrent une plateforme unique pour
explorer des phénomènes physiques novateurs tout en ouvrant la voie à la prochaine génération de
technologies quantiques. Par exemple, l’un des grands défis technologiques actuel est le développement de
nouvelles interconnexions quantiques. En contrôlant les interactions lumière-matière à la fois dans les
domaines microonde et optique, il devient possible de transférer de l’information quantique entre différents
supports. Dans ce contexte, les systèmes mécaniques peuvent jouer le rôle d’interface, facilitant le transfert
d’états quantiques d’un mode à l’autre avec une précision exceptionnelle.
Notre groupe est à la pointe de ces recherches, travaillant activement sur des systèmes hybrides
quantiques qui intègrent circuits supraconducteurs, dispositifs mécaniques et systèmes optiques. En
particulier, nous utilisons des membranes, des cantileviers et des résonateurs mécaniques.
Théorie de la correction d’erreur quantique dans un ensemble d’oscillateurs harmoniques
Domaines
Condensed matter
Quantum information theory and quantum technologies
Type de stage
Théorique, numérique
Description
Un des plus grands défis technologiques des dernières décennies est de construire un ordinateur
quantique. Ce type d’ordinateur promet de révolutionner plusieurs domaines comme la chimie,
l’apprentissage machine et la cryptographie. Cependant, un des défis majeurs à surmonter est de
combattre la décohérence qui efface l’information quantique et limite les capacités de calcul. La correction
d’erreur quantique permet, en principe, de résoudre ce problème. Une approche prometteuse pour la
correction d’erreur est d’encoder l’information dans des oscillateurs harmoniques, par exemple des cavités
micro-ondes, à l’aide de codes bosoniques. Cette approche tire avantage des longs temps de vie des
oscillateurs harmoniques, de leur grand espace d’Hilbert, et permet de corriger les erreurs avec un
minimum de surcoût en matériel.
Pour une perspective récente sur le domaine, voir l’article suivant:
Cai et al., Fundamental Research 1, 50-67 (2021)
Voir aussi : Sivak et al., Nature 616, pages 50-55 (2023)
SUJET DE STAGE
Le projet de stage consiste à explorer différents codes bosoniques, plus spécifiquement des codes où un
qubit est encodé dans plusieurs oscillateurs harmoniques. Le sujet précis du stage pourra être adapté en
fonction des intérêts du stagiaire, par exemple penchant plus sur des aspects mathématiques ou pratiques
des codes bosoniques multimodes.
Ce projet théorique serait constitué d’un mélange de calculs analytiques et de simulations numériques.
Quantum information theory and quantum technologies
Type de stage
Théorique, numérique
Description
Les circuits quantiques supraconducteurs constituent l'une des approches les plus prometteuses pour
construire un ordinateur quantique. Cela s'explique notamment par l'augmentation du temps de
cohérence et de relaxation des qubits supraconducteurs au cours des dernières décennies, qui est passé
de moins d'une nanoseconde au début des années 2000 à plusieurs centaines de microsecondes
aujourd'hui. Grâce à ces progrès, il est possible d'exécuter des algorithmes quantiques simples avec des
dizaines de ces qubits. Cependant, le passage à des processeurs quantiques plus grands nécessite
encore une amélioration significative de la qualité de tous ses composants. Par conséquent, l'objectif de
ce projet est de concevoir des qubits supraconducteurs plus robustes. Parmi les pistes prometteuses
figurent les qubits bosoniques, où les informations quantiques sont stockées dans des cavités
électromagnétiques de haute qualité, et les variations du qubit 0-π qui exploite les symétries pour
découpler le qubit de son environnement bruyant.
Superfluorescence of semiconductor quantum light nano-emitters
Domaines
Condensed matter
Quantum optics
Nanophysics, nanophotonics, 2D materials and van der Waals heterostructures,, surface physicss, new electronic states of matter
Type de stage
Expérimental
Description
The topic of the internship is to probe chains of semiconductor nanoplatelets by fluorescence microscopy and examine whether these structures exhibit superfluorescence, a mechanism by which incoherently excited dipoles, because of their coupling to the electromagnetic field, spontaneously develop a coherence and interfere constructively, leading to accelerated emission and original properties for emission correlations and directionality.
Simultaneous cooling of degenerate optomechanical modes (experiment).
Domaines
Quantum optics/Atomic physics/Laser
Quantum optics
Nanophysics, nanophotonics, 2D materials and van der Waals heterostructures,, surface physicss, new electronic states of matter
Type de stage
Expérimental
Description
Optomechanics explores the interaction between light and mechanical vibrations. As a typical example, one can consider a Fabry-Perot cavity (i.e., optical mode), in which one of the two mirrors is vibrating (i.e., mechanical mode). To display quantum properties, a mechanical mode must be cooled down close to its ground state (i.e., down to a few quanta of vibrational energy), which is typically achieved by leveraging the optical field. Sadly, when considering multiple degenerate modes, one cannot apply conventional cooling techniques that have been devised for single modes. Throughout this internship, the candidate will experimentally implement a new cooling technique intended to achieve the first-ever cooling of degenerate mechanical modes. Compared to former strategies, here, a spatial light modulator is used to spatially shape the wavefront of the light beam. Such a modulation enables to exert simultaneously adapted optical forces on each mode in order to reduce (i.e., cool) their individual vibrations. A funding is available to continue and expand this internship through a PhD.
Probing Short-Time and Small-Scale Brownian Motion with Optical Traps
Domaines
Condensed matter
Statistical physics
Soft matter
Physics of liquids
Non-equilibrium Statistical Physics
Hydrodynamics/Turbulence/Fluid mechanics
Type de stage
Expérimental
Description
This Master’s internship focuses on optical trapping, a technique pioneered by A. Ashkin (Nobel Prize 2018) and now widely used to probe matter at short scales.
The project aims to study Brownian motion, whose instantaneous velocity was long thought immeasurable until recent breakthroughs using ultra-sensitive optical setups. Our experiment combines balanced detection, high-speed acquisition, and an ultra-stable continuous laser, reaching record sensitivity down to 10⁻¹⁵ m/√Hz. We have already observed the ballistic regime of Brownian motion in water and measured particle velocity and its autocorrelation function. The internship will provide the opportunity to refine instantaneous velocity measurements, benchmark and optimize detection performance, and explore new regimes of Brownian motion near rigid and soft boundaries.
Test of quantum electrodynamics in strong Coulomb fields
Domaines
Fields theory/String theory
Metrology
Type de stage
Expérimental
Description
This internship will be centred on the preparation of a new experiment on high-accuracy x-ray spectroscopy for testing quantum electrodynamics in strong Coulomb fields of highly charged ions and antiprotonic atoms.
Quantum-repeater architecture with high-performance optical memories
Domaines
Quantum optics/Atomic physics/Laser
Quantum information theory and quantum technologies
Quantum optics
Type de stage
Expérimental et théorique
Description
Central to the development of long-distance quantum communications is the concept of quantum repeater. It consists in dividing a long communication channel into various shorter segments over which entanglement can be faithfully distributed. Adjacent segments are then connected by entanglement swapping operations. To be scalable, this approach requires quantum memories, which enable quantum states to be stored at each intermediate node.
In this context, the LKB team developed a large cold atomic ensemble based on an elongated magneto-optical trap (3-cm long), enabling 90% efficiency for entanglement storage between two memories. This is the state-of-the-art in term of storage-and-retrieval efficiency for a quantum memory, regardless of the physical platform considered.
The work is now focusing on two directions. A first one is to improve other figures of merit, including storage lifetime and multimode capacity. A second one is the demonstration of a 50-km telecom quantum repeater link relying on two distant quantum memories and frequency non-degenerate photon pair sources.
Waveguide-QED - combining cold atoms and nanophotonics (2 internships)
Domaines
Quantum optics/Atomic physics/Laser
Quantum information theory and quantum technologies
Quantum optics
Type de stage
Expérimental et théorique
Description
Controlling light-matter interaction at the single-quantum level is a long-standing goal in optical physics, with applications to quantum optics and quantum information science. However, single photons usually do not interact with each other and the interaction needs to be mediated by an atomic system. Enhancing this coupling has been the driving force for a large community over the past two decades.
In contrast to the cavity-QED approach where the interaction is enhanced by a cavity around the atoms, strong transverse confinement in single-pass nanoscale waveguides recently triggered various investigations for coupling guided light and cold atoms. Specifically, a subwavelength waveguide can provide a large evanescent field that can interact with atoms trapped in the vicinity. An atom close to the surface can absorb a fraction of the guided light as the effective mode area is comparable with the atom cross-section. This emerging field known as waveguide-QED promises unique applications to quantum networks, quantum non-linear optics and quantum simulation. Recently, the LKB team pushed the field for the first time into the quantum regime by creating an entangled state of an array of atoms coupled to such a waveguide. Two experiments are dedicated to this waveguide-QED effort and internships/PhD projects are proposed on both of them.
New thermalized light sources based on fluorescent scattering media
Domaines
Condensed matter
Statistical physics
Quantum gases
Nanophysics, nanophotonics, 2D materials and van der Waals heterostructures,, surface physicss, new electronic states of matter
Type de stage
Expérimental
Description
At ESPCI PSL, the Institut Langevin and LPEM are seeking a motivated intern and PhD candidate to join an exciting ANR-funded collaborative project investigating photon thermalization in disordered scattering media.
The spectrum of the light emitted by a black body in thermal equilibrium at temperature T, such as the Sun or a light bulb, is determined by the temperature alone, as stated by Planck’s and Wien’s law. At Institut Langevin we have recently experimentally demonstrated that a different behavior can be observed for photons emitted by laser-pumped Rhodamine fluorescent molecules in a scattering medium. The next step after this first proof of principle is to design the disordered scattering medium and the properties of the fluorophores to optimize the occurrence of photon thermalization.
In the frame of the internship, the student will work at both LPEM to synthesize inorganic nanomaterials as scatterers or emitters with well controlled optical properties and at Institut Langevin to characterize the ability of the samples to generate thermalized light.
During the PhD thesis that will follow the internship, we will use the knowledge developed in nanoparticles synthesis and thermalization to develop innovative scattering materials with optimized disorder correlations with the final goal to reach Bose-Einstein condensation of photons in these samples.
Non-relativistic quantum field theory, quantum optics, complex quantum systems
Quantum information theory and quantum technologies
Quantum optics
Non-linear optics
Kinetic theory ; Diffusion ; Long-range interacting systems
Type de stage
Expérimental et théorique
Description
Chaotic systems have a particular quantum behavior and several conjectures remain to be demonstrated concerning their spectrum and their wave functions [1]. Graphs can be chaotic or not and allow a relatively simple theoretical study of the classical and quantum limits [2]. These experiments are easier to carry out in photonics and the formalism fits well to the wave-particle duality of light. We have therefore produced graphs (chaotic or not) where light circulates in silicon waveguides (Fig. 1a) and we study their spectrum (Fig. 1c) and their wave functions (Fig. 1b).
The first objective is to verify the validity of the conjectures according to different types of graphs. In a second step, we will inject non-classical light (squeezed light or entangled photons for instance) to know if entanglement is sensitive to chaos.
The silicon graphs are fabricated in the C2N cleanroom. Their design requires numerical simulations performed under the supervision of Xavier Chécoury (C2N). The experiments are carried out on a dedicated characterization setup at C2N and the theory is developed in collaboration with Barbara Dietz (Dresden). The student may be involved in one or several of these tasks, depending on his/her preferences.
Quantum informational resources in quantum optics and superselection rules: the role of detection.
Domaines
Quantum information theory and quantum technologies
Quantum optics
Metrology
Type de stage
Théorique, numérique
Description
Quantum information protocols are well defined mathematically, and there exist different benchmarks for establishing the necessary resources for potential quantum advantage, as for instance the discrete Wigner function negativies or "magic". At the same time, physical systems, and in particular, bosonic systems - as the quantum electromagnetic field - can be used to encode quantum information or, alternatively speaking, simulate quantum informational protocols. Nevertheless, for such systems, the "magical" resources enabling quantum advantage over classical simulations - i.e., enabling the efficient simulation of quantum protocols - are subjected to physical constraints, as symmetries and conservation laws. While abstract qubits have no particular symmetry, photons are bosons, symmetric identical particles.
During this internship, we will address the interplay between physical and informational resources to determine how detection may be seen as a non-classical resource in quantum optics based quantum information protocols. This will be done by constructing a original framework where the phase reference of quantum optical states is explicitly treated as a resource. In general, this resource is implicit and disregarded, obscuring the assessment of the resource tradeoff of bosonic quantum information protocols. We will analyze, in particular, the role of detection in BosonSampling protocols and in homodyne detection, that is usually considered as resourceless.
Tuning the electronic and magnetic properties of 2D antimonene via doping with magnetic impurities
Domaines
Condensed matter
Type de stage
Expérimental
Description
In this intership project we propose to study the electronic properties of antimonene, a 2D allotrope of antimony, grown on topological insulators, by angle resolved photoemission electron spectroscopy (ARPES). The antimonene layer will be doped with magnetic impurities to induce ferromagnetism. This intership project, and the follow up PhD thesis will be carried out in collaboration with the EPFL in Switzerland.
Toward 2D electron gases with strong spin-orbit coupling in crystalline metal- semiconductor heterostructures
Domaines
Condensed matter
Type de stage
Expérimental
Description
The aim of this intership project and the following PhD thesis is to develop a strategy to preserve the strong Rashba effect in 2D heavy metallic layers on semiconducting surfaces and make use of these systems for spintronic applications. We will grow a dielectric capping material on the desired heavy metal in ultra-high vacuum environement, study the band structure of the heterostructures by ARPES and perform charge-spin conversion measurements by magneto-transport techniques.
Probing the impact of electron–phonon coupling on the carriers lifetime in gold-based perovskites
Domaines
Condensed matter
Nouveaux états électroniques de la matière corrélée
Nanophysics, nanophotonics, 2D materials and van der Waals heterostructures,, surface physicss, new electronic states of matter
Type de stage
Expérimental
Description
Halide perovskites are promising semiconductors for thin-film photovoltaics, but contain toxic lead and suffer from stability issues. Gold-based double perovskites such as Cs₂Au₂Cl₆, provide a lead-free alternative with bandgaps well suited for solar energy conversion. Yet, their charge recombination pathways—radiative and non-radiative—remain poorly understood. Our recent work has shown that photoinjected carriers (electrons and holes) rapidly formnew quantum quasi-particle called polarons through strong interactions with phonons. The objective is therefore to investigate how this coupling influences carrier lifetimes. The internship aims to investigate the role of electron–phonon interactions in carrier recombination in gold-based perovskites. The student will combine transient absorption and time-resolved photoluminescence to probe radiative and non-radiative pathways and perform temperature-dependent studies using a cryostat to control phonon populations and explore the influence of lattice vibrations. The intern will work at IPVF, benefiting from state-of-the-art facilities for material growth, device fabrication, and optical/electronic characterization.
High-Sensitivity Microwave Spectroscopy for Precision Measurements and Tests of Fundamental Physics
Domaines
Quantum optics/Atomic physics/Laser
Metrology
Type de stage
Expérimental
Description
The master’s student will join Laboratoire de Physique des Lasers (LPL) to develop a compact microwave (MW) spectrometer operating from 2–20 GHz. This instrument is designed both as a sensitive detector of internal quantum states in polyatomic molecules and as a precision tool for molecular frequency metrology. Proof-of-principle measurements have already shown free induction decay signals on the OCS J = 0 → 1 transition at 12.163 GHz with excellent signal-to-noise ratios. The next objective is sub-Hz accuracy, made possible by ultrastable, SI-traceable frequency references distributed by the REFIMEVE network.
Within the ANR Ultiμos project, the spectrometer will enable cross-checks between MW rotational frequencies and mid-infrared (MIR) rovibrational data measured at the 100 Hz level. These comparisons are motivated by the search for variations of the proton-to-electron mass ratio μ, a key constant of the Standard Model. Methanol and ammonia, with transitions highly sensitive to μ, are particularly powerful probes. MIR and MW results, obtained via independent experimental chains, will provide robust cross-validation of frequencies and uncertainty budgets.
The student will contribute to optimizing waveguide and cavity configurations, performing precision spectroscopy on benchmark species, developing MIR–MW double-resonance schemes to enhance sensitivity, and preparing integration with a cryogenic buffer-gas cooling source (~3 K).
Precision Measurements and tests of fundamental physics with cold molecules
Domaines
Quantum optics/Atomic physics/Laser
Metrology
Type de stage
Expérimental
Description
The master’s student will contribute to the development of a new-generation molecular clock dedicated to precision vibrational spectroscopy of cold molecules in the gas phase. This cutting-edge platform combines cold molecule research and frequency metrology, enabling fundamental tests of physics beyond the Standard Model. A key first objective is the measurement of the tiny electroweak-induced energy difference between enantiomers of a chiral molecule—a direct signature of parity (left-right symmetry) violation and a sensitive probe of dark matter.
Molecules, with their rich internal structure, offer unique opportunities compared to atoms for precision measurements. They are increasingly used to test fundamental symmetries, measure fundamental constants and their possible time variations, and search for dark matter. Such experiments rely on ultra-precise determination of molecular transition frequencies, requiring advanced techniques familiar in atomic physics: selective state control, high detection efficiency, long coherence times, and cooling of internal and external degrees of freedom.
The student will play an active role in early developments of the experiment, including: setting up mid-infrared quantum cascade laser systems at 6.4 μm and 15.5 μm to probe molecular vibrations; and performing first Doppler and sub-Doppler absorption spectroscopy on cold molecules (~1 K) generated in a novel apparatus.
Looking for potential variations of the proton-to-electron mass ratio and other tests of fundamental physics via precision measurements with molecules
Domaines
Quantum optics/Atomic physics/Laser
Metrology
Type de stage
Expérimental
Description
The master’s student will take part in forefront experiments dedicated to ultra-precise measurements of rovibrational molecular transitions to test a possible time variation of the proton-to-electron mass ratio (μ), a key constant of the Standard Model. Detecting such a drift would signal new physics and shed light on dark matter and dark energy. The approach relies on comparing astronomical molecular spectra with laboratory data. The experimental setup uses quantum cascade lasers (QCLs) stabilized to optical frequency combs traceable to primary standards, a technology pioneered at LPL that enables unprecedented precision in the mid-infrared.
The internship centers on methanol (CH₃OH), whose transitions are especially sensitive to μ-variation. The student will install and stabilize a QCL in the relevant spectral region, aiming for sub-Doppler resolution and ~100 Hz frequency accuracy, necessary for astrophysical comparisons. This work is part of the ANR Ultiμos project with LKB and MONARIS, combining spectroscopy of methanol and other species such as ammonia to identify key transitions for Earth- and space-based campaigns. Partners including Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam and Onsala Space Observatory provide theory and astronomical input.
This internship focuses on the realization of topological quantum phases in a dynamical system based on a Bose–Einstein condensate (BEC) of potassium atoms. Topology provides robust properties in quantum states, often revealed through protected states or invariants, and can emerge in periodically driven ("Floquet") systems. Building on the group’s recent advances in implementing effective spin–orbit coupling with spin-dependent optical potentials and modulated Raman coupling, the project will combine experimental and numerical approaches. The intern will contribute to ongoing experiments on BEC preparation of optical driving sequences, experimentation and data analysis, as well as develop numerical simulations, aimed at identifying signatures of topological phases, such as topological invariants. The project offers the opportunity to collaborate with theorists and is intended as a precursor to a PhD, extending toward many-body topological systems. The position is hosted at the PhLAM laboratory (University of Lille, CNRS) within the “Quantum Systems” team, which provides strong experimental and theoretical support. Candidates should have a background in quantum/atomic physics, interest in both theory and experiment, and prior lab experience is highly valued.
Nanophysics, nanophotonics, 2D materials and van der Waals heterostructures,, surface physicss, new electronic states of matter
Type de stage
Expérimental
Description
The aim of the internship is to explore microcavity-coupled optoelectronic quantum devices which operate in the ultra-strong light-matter coupling regime. These devices are based on quantum well heterostructures integrated with multimode photonic microcavities and metamaterials. Such architectures can dramatically enhance light–matter interactions, enabling access to the ultra-strong coupling regime, which defines new frontiers in cavity quantum electrodynamics. In this regime, electronic excitations in quantum wells hybridize with optical modes of microcavities to form new coupled states—cavity polaritons—that can exhibit strikingly non-classical properties. Such properties can be uncovered by electrical transport measurements or through the non-linear optical conversion which takes place under strong coherent pump.
As an intern, the candidate will characterize optoelectronic devices that have been already fabricated in clean room. She/he will thus acquire advanced training in infrared spectroscopy and electrical measurements of quantum devices, including in cryogenic conditions. The internship can be followed by a PhD project specifically focused on non-linear optical effects in such devices. The PhD funding is available through an ANR project.
Non-equilibrium dynamics of degenerate 1D Bose gases
Domaines
Low dimension physics
Hydrodynamics/Turbulence/Fluid mechanics
Quantum gases
Type de stage
Expérimental
Description
This internship focuses on the non-equilibrium dynamics of one-dimensional Bose gas and, in particular, on the detection of gray or dark solitons, density defects that can propagate through the system without dissipation. The work will be mainly experimental and will include the implementation of a new imaging system. The internship may be followed by a PhD thesis, for which funding has already been secured.
Quantum information theory and quantum technologies
Nanophysics, nanophotonics, 2D materials and van der Waals heterostructures,, surface physicss, new electronic states of matter
Type de stage
Expérimental
Description
Heterostructures built from atomically thin two-dimensional (2D) materials form a rapidly advancing frontier of condensed matter physics. Within this family, several compounds exhibit intrinsic magnetic order. A prominent example is CrSBr, where spins align ferromagnetically within each layer but antiferromagnetically between layers.
Recently, our team developed a technique to write magnetic domain walls between regions of opposite Néel vectors [arXiv:2503.04922]. Building on this result, we aim to investigate (i) the optical properties of these domain walls and (ii) their response to external electric and magnetic fields. Key open questions include: What is the characteristic size and internal structure of the domain walls? Do they couple to optically injected excitons? Can domain walls be manipulated with electric or magnetic fields?
As a Master’s student, you will join our team to explore these questions. Depending on project needs and your personal interests, you could contribute to:
• Fabrication of layered magnetic heterostructures
• Optical spectroscopy at cryogenic temperatures
• Scanning magnetometry experiments
Machine-learning approaches to model interatomic interactions
Domaines
Condensed matter
Statistical physics
Soft matter
Physics of liquids
Nonequilibrium statistical physics
Non-equilibrium Statistical Physics
Kinetic theory ; Diffusion ; Long-range interacting systems
Nanophysics, nanophotonics, 2D materials and van der Waals heterostructures,, surface physicss, new electronic states of matter
Type de stage
Théorique, numérique
Description
Research overview
Materials can be studied using computer simulation which enables one to probe the motion of each constituent atoms and to build correlations between the macroscopic properties and the microscopic behaviors. On the one hand, traditional quantum mechanics methods provides particularly accurate results up to the electronic structure of the material. Yet, the drawback of this method concerns its computational cost which prevents from studying large system sizes and long time scales. On the other hand, effective potentials have been developed to mimic atomic interactions thereby reducing those issues. However, these potentials are often built to reproduce bulk properties of the materials and can hardly be employed to study some specific systems including interfaces and nanomaterials. In this context, a new class of interatomic potentials based on machine-learning algorithms is being developed to retain the accuracy of traditional quantum mechanics methods while being able to run simulations with larger system sizes and longer time scales.
Simulation project
Using computer simulations, the student will construct a database that should be representative of the different interactions occurring in a specific material. Machine-learning potentials based on the least-angle regression algorithm as well as neural network potentials will be trained and their accuracy will be studied as a function of the size and the complexity of the database.
Crystallization of nanomaterials: theory and simulation
Domaines
Condensed matter
Statistical physics
Soft matter
Physics of liquids
Nonequilibrium statistical physics
Non-equilibrium Statistical Physics
Kinetic theory ; Diffusion ; Long-range interacting systems
Nanophysics, nanophotonics, 2D materials and van der Waals heterostructures,, surface physicss, new electronic states of matter
Type de stage
Théorique, numérique
Description
Research overview
The formation of a crystal is triggered by the emergence of a nucleation core. Classical nucleation theory (CNT) is widely employed to discuss its nature and its origin. In CNT, the thermodynamically stable phase is always the one that grows first and its size is then driven by the free energy competition between how much it costs to build a liquid-crystal interface and the gain from growing the crystal. Yet, following Ostwald’s rule, another structure may emerge beforehand if it is closer in free energy to the mother phase. Then, structural and also chemical reorganizations happen during the growth. This multi-stage nucleation mechanism already appears in bulk systems but can be amplified in nanocrystal nucleation where surface effects and chemical reactivity are enhanced. For nanoscience to be inspired by the practical applications instead of still being driven by the synthesis possibilities, it is crucial to reach a better understanding of the unique crystallization mechanisms leading to nanocrystals.
Simulation project
Atomistic simulations will be performed to study crystallization of binary particles. Examples will be taken from well-studied materials including CuZr, NiAl, NaCl, Water... We will investigate the correlation between the thermodynamic conditions and the final nanoparticles. The goal is to ultimately better understand how nucleation theory is affected by downsizing to the nanometric scale.
Infrared sensing with enhanced light matter coupling using quantum dot
Domaines
Low dimension physics
Nanophysics, nanophotonics, 2D materials and van der Waals heterostructures,, surface physicss, new electronic states of matter
Type de stage
Expérimental
Description
Quantum dots, thanks to quantum confinement, offer an interesting playground for optoelectronics. In the visible range, they have already reached commercial status as light sources for displays, and current efforts now focus on the infrared range. Films of such colloidal quantum dots offer a strategy for cost disruption, while infrared optoelectronics has historically been prohibitive. However, their polycrystalline nature tends to limit carrier diffusion length; therefore, to efficiently absorb and photoconduct, they must be coupled to a photonic structure whose role is to focus light onto a thin film of such quantum dots. This concept is now established, and our group aims to go further through the introduction of post-fabrication reconfigurable structures, where the spectral response can be tuned via the application of a bias.
In this project, we aim to design new photonic structures that enable control of linewidth and absorption directivity. In the long term, the project could also shift toward light emission, depending on the applicant’s interests.
Nanophysics, nanophotonics, 2D materials and van der Waals heterostructures,, surface physicss, new electronic states of matter
Type de stage
Théorique, numérique
Description
Weyl points are band-crossing singularities in 3D crystals that host Weyl fermions, leading to Weyl semimetals with topologically protected chiral surface states and high electron mobility. Photonic analogues, found in chiral crystals and metamaterials, exhibit photonic Weyl points with robust surface modes and unusual scattering properties.
Coupling quantum electronic states to cavity photons has given rise to polaritonics, and its topological extension is rapidly advancing. Yet, strong coupling between topological electronic systems and nontrivial chiral photonic edge modes near optical Weyl points remains largely unexplored. This internship will develop a Hamiltonian model that can be solved analytically and use numerical simulations (finite element and FDTD) to assess experimental platforms capable of realizing such light–matter interactions.
Impact of stimulated Raman scattering on time-frequency single photon encoding for quantum communication protocols
Domaines
Quantum optics/Atomic physics/Laser
Non-relativistic quantum field theory, quantum optics, complex quantum systems
Quantum information theory and quantum technologies
Quantum optics
Non-linear optics
Type de stage
Théorique, numérique
Description
The frequency (or time-of-arrival) degree of freedom of a single photon represents a continuous variable used for encoding quantum information [1,2,3]. Frequency is less susceptible to noise in optical fibers, waveguides, and free space, making it a strong candidate for future quantum information processing. Unlike polarization, frequency is unaffected by birefringence, does not require phase stabilization, and is immune to nonlinear effects at the single-photon level. Given the high cost and impracticality of deploying new fiber infrastructure, the project explores how quantum communication can be integrated into existing classical networks by having the coexistence of quantum and classical signals within one optical fiber.
This project investigates the development of a quantum channel mediated by stimulated Raman scattering (SRS), when there is coexistence of one classical field and a frequency-encoded single photon state. We will employ a light-matter interaction model to analyze how
SRS-induced field distortion impacts the frequency encoding of single photons, including two-color and grid-state encodings [3]. The resulting spectral modifications will be quantified by their effect on quantum communication performance, specifically the quantum bit error
rate (QBER) and the asymptotic key rate.
Bosons and fermions in van der Waals heterostructures
Domaines
Condensed matter
Nouveaux états électroniques de la matière corrélée
Nanophysics, nanophotonics, 2D materials and van der Waals heterostructures,, surface physicss, new electronic states of matter
Type de stage
Expérimental
Description
The project focuses on mixtures of electrons (fermion) and excitons (electron-hole pair, a boson) in a new class of materials: van der Waals heterostructures. The latter can be seen as a “mille-feuille”, obtained by stacking atomically thin sheets of various materials. They recently became a prominent platform to study many-body physics, after a milestone discovery of superconductivity in bilayer graphene. Our long term ambition is to introduce superconductivity in a controlled manner, using excitons as force-carrier bosons (instead of phonons in conventional superconductors). The internship will pave the way toward this goal. It includes two steps, (i) the fabrication of the heterostructures and (ii) a first characterization with optical spectroscopy.
Quantum information theory and quantum technologies
Quantum optics
Non-linear optics
Type de stage
Expérimental
Description
Quantum imaging exploits non-classical light to outperform classical methods in resolution, sensitivity, or to enable new modalities. Our team has recently developed an approach that encodes images in the correlations of entangled photon pairs, making them invisible to standard intensity measurements but retrievable through coincidence detection with advanced single-photon cameras. Using this technique, we demonstrated image transmission through scattering layers in conditions where classical light fails. This M2 internship (with the possibility of continuing as a PhD) builds directly on these results. The setup will be upgraded with a digital micromirror device and an event-based camera to move toward real-time operation. The project will then explore new applications, such as exploiting the intrinsic nonlinearity of quantum imaging for advanced image processing or photonic computing, and investigating secure image transmission schemes based on entanglement. The student will actively improve the system’s performance, study the underlying physics, and help identify promising research directions through both experiments and simulations.
More infos: www.quantumimagingparis.fr
Manipulating entangled photons through complex media
Domaines
Quantum optics
Non-linear optics
Type de stage
Expérimental
Description
Quantum entanglement underpins technologies in communication, computing, and imaging, but its fragile nature makes it highly sensitive to optical disorder such as turbulence or scattering. This limits the performance of many quantum protocols and poses a major challenge for real-world applications. In collaboration with Prof. Gigan’s group at LKB, we investigate how entangled photons propagate through complex media and develop methods to preserve and control their quantum properties. We have shown that wavefront shaping, originally designed for classical light, can compensate for scattering and enable entanglement transmission through diffusive layers. Surprisingly, disorder can also be exploited: we demonstrated Bell inequality violations through multimode fibers, opening new perspectives for entanglement distribution in networks. Building on these results, this Master’s internship (with the possibility of continuing to a PhD) will focus on transmitting complex entangled two-photon states (e.g. polariation, space, spectral) through highly scattering media. The project will develop a novel multi-plane wavefront shaping strategy, inspired by multi-plane light converters, combining the expertise of Dr. Defienne’s team in quantum imaging with Prof. Gigan’s advances in wavefront shaping. More infos: www.quantumimagingparis.fr
Nonequilibrium thermodynamics of many-body quantum systems
Domaines
Quantum optics/Atomic physics/Laser
Condensed matter
Low dimension physics
Non-relativistic quantum field theory, quantum optics, complex quantum systems
Nonequilibrium statistical physics
Quantum information theory and quantum technologies
Quantum optics
Non-equilibrium Statistical Physics
Quantum gases
Type de stage
Théorique, numérique
Description
Recent progress in the field of quantum thermodynamics allowed to define and analyze work and heat exchanges between quantum systems, and extend the Second law to nonequilibrium ensemble of quantum systems. However, applying those definitions to concrete situations require to keep track of the full state of the systems, which is intractable for large quantum systems. The intern will join the effort of the group to build a formalism for nonequilibrium quantum thermodynamics involving only a few macroscopic observables, relevant for numerical or experimental analysis of many-body systems. To do so, the intern will apply the concepts developed in the group to paradigmatic examples of many-body quantum systems, whose dynamics is either analytically or numerically solvable, to help identify the best formulations of the theory being developed. The internship might be pursued with a PhD in the group funded via a European ERC project.
We study how spatial modulation of tunnel couplings in one-dimensional systems can open electronic band gaps and host edge states, as in the Su–Schrieffer–Heeger (SSH) model. Beyond fundamental physics, controlling such gaps is attractive for quantum technologies, since they can protect fragile quantum states from decoherence.
Recently, our team demonstrated electrical control of a band gap in a suspended carbon nanotube using an array of 15 gates. By applying alternating electrostatic potentials, we achieved tunable gaps up to 25 meV, directly visible in transport spectroscopy.
The internship (with possible continuation as a PhD) will build on this result by probing the system with microwave photons in a mesoscopic QED setup. Using a new readout technique based on cavity dipole radiation activated by rf-gates, the goal is to reveal edge states and move toward SSH-type physics. The project combines quantum transport and microwave engineering in close collaboration with the startup C12. Candidates should have a strong background in quantum/condensed matter physics and an interest in nanodevices and advanced measurement methods.
Molecular Formation Pictures: Time-resolved photoionization studies of atoms and molecules embedded in superfluid helium nanodroplets.
Domaines
Quantum optics/Atomic physics/Laser
Nonequilibrium statistical physics
Quantum gases
Type de stage
Expérimental
Description
The goal of this experimental internship is to follow in real time the bond formation of two isolated species initially separated in an ultracold (0.37K) superfluid solvent. For this purpose, we will use ultrashort laser pulses to trigger, track and characterize the reaction following a pump-probe methodology.
In practice, we will rely on time-resolved photoionization spectroscopy, a technique based on the ionization of the species by the laser pulses and on the detection of the electrons and ions as molecular probes. The electron carries information about the initial electronic state of the ionized species, while the ion reveals the final state after relaxation processes such as fragmentation or isomerization.
Nouveaux états électroniques de la matière corrélée
Quantum information theory and quantum technologies
Nanophysics, nanophotonics, 2D materials and van der Waals heterostructures,, surface physicss, new electronic states of matter
Type de stage
Expérimental
Description
The internship is focused on charge density waves —macroscopic quantum states consisting in a coherent spatial modulation of the charge in a crystal— and how they can experience a proximity effect, i.e. live in a crystal that does not naturally develop such quantum phases but can host them when put in contact to another crystal. This effect will be studied in two-dimensional crystals, and will be scrutinized using cryogenic optical spectroscopy and electron diffraction.
Nanophysics, nanophotonics, 2D materials and van der Waals heterostructures,, surface physicss, new electronic states of matter
Type de stage
Expérimental
Description
The goal of this internship is to develop a unique combination of a scanning tunneling microscope, an optical microscope, and a Hanbury Brown and Twiss (HBT) interferometer for photon correlation measurements. Using this unique instrument, cutting-edge nano-optics experiments on plasmonic nanostructures coupled to quantum emitters will be performed. The tunneling current under the STM tip will be used as a source of local electrical excitation of the surface plasmons. The light produced will be collected using the optical microscope, and the photon bunching and anti-bunching effects will be demonstrated using the HBT interferometer (i.e. measuring the second-order correlation g(2) function of light). The internship includes a significant experimental component and instrumental development
Probing excitons on the nanoscale in two-dimensional semiconductors and their heterostructures
Domaines
Condensed matter
Low dimension physics
Nanophysics, nanophotonics, 2D materials and van der Waals heterostructures,, surface physicss, new electronic states of matter
Type de stage
Expérimental
Description
Two-dimensional semiconducting materials, such as transition metal dichalcogenide (TMD) monolayers, are key in the development of future device technologies. This is because such materials are only a few atoms thick and have unique optical and electronic properties. TMD monolayers are also considered an ideal platform for the study of excitons, i.e., bound electron-hole pairs, in 2D materials. Controlling the generation of excitons, their radiative decay, and their interactions with free charge carriers in 2D semiconductors is crucial for applications, e.g., in photovoltaic and light emitting devices. In this Masters thesis, the student will use nano-optical tools to probe the excitonic properties of TMD monolayers on the nanometer scale. The tunneling current between the sample and the tip of a scanning tunneling microscope (STM) will serve to locally excite the electroluminescence of the 2D semiconductor. The resulting light will be analyzed using optical microscopy and spectroscopy. Moreover, the student will carry out cutting-edge nano-optics experiments using the STM on “twist-engineered” heterostructures of these TMD monolayers. As has been recently discovered, new material properties may appear in such layered heterostructures depending on the misalignment angle (or “twist”) between adjacent layers.
Controlling the polarization of light with chiral plasmonic nanostructures
Domaines
Condensed matter
Nanophysics, nanophotonics, 2D materials and van der Waals heterostructures,, surface physicss, new electronic states of matter
Type de stage
Expérimental et théorique
Description
The chiroptical response of materials and structures is most often studied by optical means, yet in a future optoelectronic nanodevice, a local electronic excitation is necessary. Working with this long-term goal in mind, we will investigate for the first time the electrical excitation
of a chiral nanoparticle using the tunneling current from a scanning tunneling microscope. We will also investigate chiral light-matter interactions of a 2D semiconductor in an electrically excited plasmonic cavity