06 Postdoctoral Fellowship at Aalto University, Finland

An experimental Postdoc position in the field of superconducting quantum correlations in topological materials is available in the NANO group, Department of Applied Physics at Aalto University, Finland. We are leading research in the field of quantum circuits and superconducting hybrid circuits based on novel two- dimensional van der Waals materials. These hybrid-circuits form a promising direction within the emerging field of quantum technologies, which enables a.o. supersensitive sensors for detection flux, charge, and phonons at the sensitivity limits governed by quantum mechanics. This field of research has made tremendous progress in recent years, and presently offers plenty of exciting opportunities for young scientists, in both academia and industry. 

We are seeking applications for experimental research on anyon particle and topological phenomena in the NANO group, Department of Applied Physics at Aalto University, Finland. We are leading research in quantum technologies based on hybrid van-der Waals quantum materials. These hybrid-circuits form a promising avenue for emerging topological quantum technologies. Our research focuses on the development of supersensitive quantum sensors for the charge, flux, and phonons based on 2-D materials. We are part of the Center of Excellence in Quantum Technology Finland (CoE QTF), a national flagship program for research on quantum science and technology. Our researcher collaborates with several top-level academic groups and quantum technology companies in Finland and around the world.

We invite applications for two post-doctoral researchers in the field of quantum computing, focused on the development of quantum algorithms to investigate and design strongly correlated quantum many-body systems and quantum materials. The prospective postdocs will work on developing quantum circuit algorithms to predict quantum phase transitions in interacting quantum many-body systems. We aim to use a methodology that relies on measurements of fluctuations to predict quantum phase transitions in a manner that is resilient to the decoherence in quantum computers.

This Postdoctoral Researcher position will be filled initially for two years, with a possible extension of up to three years. The expected starting salary for a Postdoctoral Researcher is approximately 3850 €/month, depending on experience and qualifications. As an employer, Aalto University provides excellent learning and development opportunities as well as occupational health care services and versatile exercise services. Finland also has a comprehensive social security system.

Project 1: Gravitational coupling between nonclassical masses

In this project, the goal is to touch a hundred-year-old mystery of physics: Despite its success at describing phenomena in the low-energy limit, quantum mechanics is incompatible with general relativity that describes gravity and huge energies. The interface between these two has remained experimentally elusive, because only the most violent events in the universe have been considered to produce measurable effects due to the plausible quantum behavior of gravity. We aim at detecting gravitational forces for the first time within a quantum system. We use mechanical oscillators loaded by milligram masses and bring two such gravitationally interacting oscillators into nonclassical motional states. Initially, we will measure the gravitational force between gold particles weighing a milligram, representing a new mass scale showing gravitational forces within a system.

Project 2: Quantum acoustics

For quantum technology, integrating acoustic modes into superconducting circuits shows great promise for applications as quantum memory elements, bosonic codes, or in frequency conversion. We are working on High-Overtone Bulk Acoustic (HBAR) resonances that extend through the chip, and couple resonantly to transmon qubits. In ongoing and future work, we are promoting the devices to host several qubits, each coupled one or several HBAR modes. This will allow for creating mechanical entanglement, and is a step towards phononic quantum chips. To realize processing of flying quantum phonons on a chip, we will connect standing HBAR modes into phonon waveguides which can be used to connect qubits.

Project 3: Magneto acoustics

Besides electromechanics, we are building hybrid devices that aim on controlling ferromagnetic magnons using acoustic waves. Owing to the large speed of light, realizing cavity optomechanics in the microwave frequency range requires cavities up to several mm in size, hence making it hard to embed several of them on the same chip. An alternative scheme with much smaller footprint is provided by magneto acoustics, where the electromagnetic cavity is replaced by a magnet undergoing ferromagnetic resonance, and the optomechanical coupling originates from magnetic shape anisotropy. The small footprint of these hybrid devices shows promise for applications in novel signal processing. We use vibrating magnetic nanobeams, or multilayer structures consisting of magnetic and piezoelectric layers. In the latter structures, we couple magnons to longitudinal overtone (HBAR) acoustic modes, and to surface acoustic waves.

We seek highly qualified and motivated individuals with enthusiastic attitude towards high-quality research to work as a Postdoctoral Researcher at the Department of Mechanical Engineering. The positions are for a period of 3-years, with a mid-term review by the end of the first 12-months, and should start on 1st August 2023. The positions are intended for full-time work.