Job Description

CONTEXT OF THE JOB:  

The Department of Physics and Astronomy and its faculty are recipients of substantial amounts of research funding from US Government Agencies including the National Science Foundation, Office of Naval Research, National Institute of Standards and Technology, The Department of Energy, and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.  Development and application of quantum sensors is an area of research in which maintaining a position of leadership is considered a matter of national priority.   

Optical clocks are the most accurate instruments ever realized by humankind. They have great potential for fundamental physics discovery as quantum sensors, e.g. for low-frequency gravitational wave detection or for dark matter searches. However, thus far optical clocks have used the same basic modality since the first atomic clocks were realized: uniform state preparation and interrogation of a sample of atoms. In contrast the quantum information science (QIS) toolbox has fine-grained controls now available where single atoms in large arrays are individually controlled, interrogated, and even entangled with other atoms. We seek to leverage the many-fold technical QIS advances to develop new algorithms for optical clocks as sensors for new physics, in collaboration with other QuSeC-TAQS researches. 

In the Q-SEnSE institute, an NSF Quantum Leap Challenge Institute, prominent quantum researchers in experiment and theory, science and engineering, from around the U.S. and internationally, collaborate to explore how advanced quantum sensing can discover new fundamental physics, develop and apply novel quantum technologies, provide tools for a national infrastructure in quantum sensing, and train a quantum savvy workforce.  

Professor Safronova group’s research is on the forefront effort to develop quantum sensors for fundamental physics, including searches for the dark matter which is one of the great unsolved puzzles of our Universe.  In this project, we will develop algorithms that efficiently use the available atomic resources for a given application, e.g. enhancing the stability of a clock by breaking it up into sub-ensembles, or applying different sequences to distinct clocks in a network in order to search for transient frequency shifts as a signal for new physics. With the Q-SEnSE funding, we will perform modeling of space mission with clocks, determine the anticipated sensitivity of various clocks and orbits to physics beyond the standard model, including dark matter, symmetry violations, space-time fluctuations of the fundamental constants, and modifications to general relativity.  

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES:  

• Exploring novel ideas on searches for dark matter and other physics beyond the Standard Model with quantum sensors, including development of quantum algorithms for atomic clocks and other quantum sensors 

• Development of concepts for space missions with quantum technologies for fundamental physics studies 

• Explore quantum algorithms for operating atomic clocks and networks of clocks for detection of dark matter and other new physics  

• Collaborate with members of Q-SEnSE Institute and QuSeC-TAQS project on the design and analysis of relevant experiments  

• Collaborate with theoretical AMO and particle physics researchers. AMO: atomic, molecular, optical.  

• Review and discuss research plans and details with other members of the research group and colleagues, and with the Supervisor. 

• Prepare materials for assembly into research papers, write papers and submit research results to scientific journals. 

• Prepare materials for talks, posters and other presentations at scientific meetings. 

• Assist in evaluation and discussion of scientific research carried out by other research groups, based on published papers and presentations at meetings.   

• Assist with formulating and refining research goals within the group.  

• Assist in supervision of graduate students. 

QUALIFICATIONS:  

• Ph. D. in physics by the start date of the position. 

• Research experience in quantum metrology, quantum algorithms, AMO-based quantum sensors, or a related field. 

• Prior work on new physics searches and/or expertise directly related to primary tasks of this position is strongly preferred. 

• Ability to work in a collaborative group environment and with remote collaborators using electronic communication. 

• Ability to develop scientific reports and manuscripts based on original research. 

• Ability to develop and deliver presentations. 

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