With this project, you will join a team of experimental quantum physicists at the University of Amsterdam who are building a new type of optical clock. Optical clocks are the most precise measurement instruments in the world, going wrong by only one second over the lifetime of the universe. They enable searches for beyond standard model physics, can explore quantum many-body systems, and have practical applications in geodesy, navigation and network synchronization.

State-of-the-art optical clocks are working in a pulsed fashion and need hours of averaging to reach their final accuracy. A main goal of our research is to reduce this to a few minutes, which would open new opportunities for clocks. We want to achieve this by creating a superradiant clock, which is a special type of laser that lasers on an ultranarrow optical transition. To realize this clock, we are using technology that we have developed to achieve continuous Bose-Einstein condensation [Nature  606, 683–687 (2022)]. You can read about our plans for this clock in Sheng Zhou’s PhD thesis.

This project is embedded in the QDNL Ultracold Atom Quantum Sensing Testbed, which will allow you to learn about many interesting projects related to your PhD, such as creating a European optical time and frequency distribution network, building an industry prototype of an optical clock, building continuously operating atom interferometers, or improving the way in which optics is built. Our group has furthermore quantum simulation experiments using Rb-Sr mixtures or single Sr atoms in optical tweezer arrays. Your PhD project will profit from synergy with all these activities.

• at least 8 months of master project in experimental ultracold atom or trapped ion group;
• good team working skills;
• good English skills;
• experience with at least a few of the following: experimental work with optics, lasers, electronics, experiment control software;
• some experience with data analysis;
• strong letter of recommendation from master project supervisor;
• Beneficial skill: programming, including some languages of the following list: C, C++, Python, Matlab, Mathematica. Programming skills will be used to build experiment control systems, data analysis systems, and to perform numerical simulations of experiments.

For MSCA PhD positions it is required that the applicant shall at the date of recruitment be in the first four years (full-time equivalent research experience) of their research careers and have not been awarded a doctoral degree. The applicant must not have resided or carried out her/his main activity (e.g. work or studies) in the Netherlands for more than 12 months in the three years immediately prior the recruitment date.

A temporary contract for 38 hours per week for the duration of 4 years (the initial contract will be for a period of 18 months and after satisfactory evaluation it will be extended for a total duration of 4 years). The preferred starting date is 1 October 2025 or as soon as possible after that. This should lead to a dissertation (PhD thesis). We will draft an educational plan that includes attendance of courses and (international) meetings. We also expect you to assist in teaching undergraduates and master students.