Three-year PhD position in “Advancing Instrumentation for Conventional Electron Spin Resonance in the Realm of Quantum Technologies” (funded by Amidex)

RESEARCHER PROFILE: PhD/ R1: First stage Researcher                  
RESEARCH FIELD(S)1: Physics
MAIN SUB RESEARCH FIELD OR DISCIPLINES1: Solid state physics, Quantum mechanics, Quantum technology 

JOB /OFFER DESCRIPTION:
Electron Spin Resonance (ESR) is a powerful spectroscopic technique used to study the magnetic properties of materials with unpaired electrons. The resulting spectrum provides valuable information about the local environment of unpaired electrons, such as their number, spin state, and interactions with neighbouring atoms. ESR finds diverse applications in fields like chemistry, physics, biology, and more specifically in quantum information. Quantum technologies represent a transformative frontier, leveraging the principles of quantum mechanics for revolutionary applications. Expectations and implications are enormous, but so are the technological hurdles. Superconducting quantum circuits (SQC), one of the leading hardware candidates for quantum computing, have also emerged as powerful tools in the realm of quantum metrology and sensing. By leveraging its high sensitivity, at the quantum limit, these circuits enable highly precise measurements for a variety of applications, including magnetic spectroscopy.

A key element, shared by both the SQC and ESR fields, is the microwave resonator. Recently, by merging SQC with ESR, sensitivity breakthroughs, down to single-spin detection, have been achieved by using millikelvin temperature and long coherence superconducting resonator. However, it still lacks the necessary versatility for the broad range of uses of conventional ESR as it only operates at millikelvin temperature and using a well-chosen spin sample.

Our approach will be to build a homemade ESR spectrometer based on resonators made of higher critical temperatures superconductors, thus allowing to improve spin sensitivity without sacrificing too much on temperature versatility. The associated microwave circuitry and electronics will also be developed in order to be able to probe the time-resolved quantum dynamics of diverse spin samples. This PhD project has a strong experimental and instrumental component.

This PhD, funded by A*midex. will take place in the Magnetism (MAG) group at IM2NP. The MAG team focuses on investigating unique magnetic properties in condensed matter through an integrated approach involving instrumentation, experimentation, and theory. Our expertise lies in electron spin resonance (ESR) studies of paramagnetic, ferromagnetic, and antiferromagnetic materials. Our research spans both fundamental sciences, exploring low-dimensional strongly correlated magnets (e.g., spin chains, frustration, spin liquids), or quantum information processing (quantum coherence of electron spin in solids), and applied science, examining materials with potential applications in spintronics (ferromagnetic, multiferroic). More information on https://www.im2np.fr/fr/equipe-magnetisme-mag

TYPE OF CONTRACT: TEMPORARY / JOB STATUS: FULL TIME / HOURS PER WEEK: 35
APPLICATION DEADLINE: 01/06/2024 & TIME 00:00
ENVISAGED STARTING DATE: 01/10/2024
ENVISAGED DURATION: 36 months
JOB NOT FUNDED THROUGH AN EU RESEARCH FRAMEWORK PROGRAMME

WORK LOCATION(S): IM2NP (Institut Matériaux Microélectronique Nanosciences de Provence), Campus de Saint Jérôme - Case 142, Avenue Escadrille Normandie Niemen, F-13397 MARSEILLE Cedex 20

WHAT WE OFFER: 
We offer a three-year PhD position funded by A*midex. Gross monthly salary will be €2100, €2200 and €2300 for the first, second and third year of the position. The candidate will have access to the state-of-the-art EPR spectrometers in France through the Infrastructure INFRANALYTICS as well as the engineering platforms of the IM2NP laboratory.

Additional information: The Euraxess Center of Aix-Marseille Université informs foreign visiting professors, researchers, postdoc and PhD candidates about the administrative steps to be undertaken prior to arrival at AMU and the various practical formalities to be completed once in France: visas and entry requirements, insurance, help finding accommodation, support in opening a bank account, etc. More information on AMU EURAXESS Portal 

QUALIFICATIONS, REQUIRED RESEARCH FIELDS, REQUIRED EDUCATION LEVEL, PROFESSIONAL SKILLS, OTHER RESEARCH REQUIREMENTS (years of research experience 
The candidate must hold Master degree in physics, nanoscience by the end of summer 2024. He/she should have a solid background in experimental condensed matter and quantum physics. He/she should be strongly motivated in instrumental development. 

Soft skills:  Autonomy, Co-operation, Curiosity, Analytical and critical thinking

REQUESTED DOCUMENTS OF APPLICATION, ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA, SELECTION PROCESS
Applications, in English, should include:

• CV (specifying the English level), 
• Cover letter
• Transcripts and ranking of Master degree.
• Contact information for at least two references

HOW TO APPLY: 
Applications should be submitted by email to: sylvain.bertaina@im2np.fr and remy.dassonneville@im2np.fr