In the Quantum Logic Spectroscopy research group, we work on precision spectroscopy of trapped and laser-cooled atomic ions. To this end, we develop quantum computer-inspired techniques for the coherent manipulation of ions and their spectroscopy for applications such as high-precision optical atomic clocks.

Your tasks will include:

• Enhancing the Ca⁺-based multi-ion experiment to attain uncertainty values so far unequalled
• Implementing and evaluating multi-ion manipulation, detection and cooling techniques
• Developing and implementing quantum algorithms for ion entanglement to improve the statistical uncertainty
• Enhancing dynamic decoupling algorithms to suppress environmental effects
• Developing methods for correlated clock retrieval in close collaboration with the Al⁺ quantum logic clock
• Presenting the scientific results at international conferences
• Participating in international projects such as the TSCAC EU project and the DQ-mat Collaborative Research Center (CRC) 

Project website

We offer:

• A position at one of the world’s leading research institutions which has an excellent infrastructure
• Excellent national and international connections
• Intensive PhD supervision in an interdisciplinary team as well as practical training in modern experimental technologies of laser and quantum physics and frequency metrology
• Research leave abroad via our wide-ranging network
• Remuneration in accordance with the collective bargaining agreement for the public service (Tarifvertrag öffentlicher Dienst Bund – TVöD for the federal level)
• For PhD students, remuneration is based on salery group E13, (85%)
• Good transport connections (bus and bike); free parking
• In-house daycare center and canteen

Your profile:

• You have completed your university studies in physics (master’s degree/German Diplom) with a very good degree.
• You are interested in developing and performing high-precision experiments.
• You have a high level of commitment, an ability to work independently, and a willingness to learn.
• You are a strong team player with excellent communication skills.
• You have a very good command of spoken and written English.
• Having a good knowledge of atomic physics, quantum optics, laser cooling, laser spectroscopy, or related fields is an advantage.
• You are willing to travel within Germany and abroad within the scope of your assignment.
• You must have the physical ability to work in a laboratory and perform experiments at external sites.

If you are interested, please contact Prof. Dr. Piet O. Schmidt or Dr. Lennart Pelzer

PTB promotes the professional equality of women and men and is thus especially interested in applications from women.
Within the scope of the official feasibilities, PTB offers flexible part-time work schemes in order to support in particular the compatibility of work and family life.
Disabled persons will be given priority if they have the same occupational aptitude.

Highly charged ions (HCIs) are ubiquitous in the observable universe and have many advantageous properties for fundamental physics tests and use as next-generation optical clocks. Building on our recent breakthrough in the clock-like laser spectroscopy of highly charged ions with a precision jump of nine orders of magnitude, the following tasks will be pursued:

• Participating in the ERC project titled ‘FunClocks’ and in other international cooperation projects
• Working with our team to install and characterize a new ion trap to improve the uncertainty of the system to less than 10^‑18
• Developing quantum logic search techniques to enable the rapid localization and identification of narrow optical transitions in HCIs
• Performing optical frequency measurements at the technological limit and analyzing isotopic shift data with respect to the exclusion of 5^th forces
• Developing optical clocks based on HCIs with an uncertainty of 10^‑18
• Presenting the scientific results at international conferences

Your profile: 

• You have successfully completed your university studies in physics (Master’s degree or German Diplom).
• You are interested in developing and performing high-precision experiments.
• You are highly committed and capable of working autonomously.
• You are a strong team player with excellent communication skills.
• You have a very good command of spoken and written English.
• A good knowledge of atomic physics, quantum optics, laser cooling, laser spectroscopy, or related fields would be an advantage.
• You must have the physical ability to work in a laboratory and perform experiments at external sites.

We offer:

• A position at one of the world’s leading research institutions which has an excellent infrastructure
• Excellent national and international connections
• Hands-on training in modern experimental techniques in laser and quantum physics and active participation in the development of experiments at the forefront of quantum physics research
• Research leave abroad via our wide-ranging network
• Compatibility of work and family life (flexible working hours and part-time schemes)
• Remuneration in accordance with the collective bargaining agreement for the public service (Tarifvertrag öffentlicher Dienst Bund – TVöD for the federal level)
• In-house daycare center and canteen
• Various workplace health and wellness options

The post is initially limited to two years; an extension of the contract is possible. You will be employed at our Braunschweig site.

Project Website

Flyer

Link to online application

For more information, please contact Prof. Dr. Piet O. Schmidt

Background
Coulomb crystals are an interesting system for scaling trapped-ion precision spectroscopy to multiple particles. They are the basis for a new generation of ion optical clocks with improved stability and thus higher time resolution in fundamental physics tests and applications such as relativistic geodesy. At the same time, the highly controlled environment in state-of-the-art ion traps allows for 10^-19-level systematic uncertainties in such many-body spectroscopic references [Keller et al., PRA 99, 013405 (2019)].

Description of work
We use linear ¹¹⁵In⁺/¹⁷²Yb⁺ ion chains for precision spectroscopy. Yb⁺ is used in searches for physics beyond the Standard Model and tests of the Einstein Equivalence Principle [Dreissen et al., Nat. Commun. 13, 7314 (2022)]. Our In+/Yb+ optical clock has recently demonstrated operation with multiple clock ions and participated in local and international frequency comparisons with an evaluated systematic uncertainty in the low 10^-18 range [t.b.p.].

By cooling crystals close to their motional ground state, time dilation uncertainties in ensembles of clock ions can be reduced to below 1 x 10^-19. At this level of uncertainty, our system will be ideally suited to explore physics at the intersection of quantum mechanics and relativistic effects. In addition, we are investigating novel interrogation protocols for multi-ion spectroscopy.

Skills and Requirements
We are looking for an ambitious and highly motivated experimental researcher with good analytic thinking and experience in at least one of the following fields: spectroscopy of trapped ions or atoms, lasers and laser stabilization, time & frequency metrology, opto-electronic controls and
systems. We expect the applicant to be fluent in English and interested in leading a team of PhD and Master students. The applicant should have completed a PhD in physics before starting the position.

Position
The position is initially limited to two years, with a possibility for long-term options of up to six years. Starting date is as soon as possible. The salary will be paid in accordance with remuneration group 13 TVöD Bund. Applicants should send their CV, list of publications and references to Prof. Dr. Tanja Mehlstäubler (tanja.mehlstaeubler@ptb.de).

Flyer

Contact

Prof. Dr. Tanja E. Mehlstäubler

QUEST Institute at PTB

Bundesallee 100

38116 Braunschweig, Germany

Tel.: +49 531 592-4710

E-Mail: tanja.mehlstaeubler@ptb.de
www.quantummetrology.de/quaccs