Job Offer - Ph. D. Position

The PhD project is part of the FETOPEN project CRYST^3 funded by the European Research Council.

This research program requires (i) micro-confining and laser cooling rubidium atom inside the core of a hollow core fiber, (ii) exploring cooperative effects and (iii) generation and characterization of superradiance.

Also, the project comprises theoretical and simulations work, that will be undertaken by this PhD.

The PhD program entails two objectives :

The first one consists in studying the effects induced by the surface roughness of the core contour of hollow fibers on guided light scattering and on the evolution of the modal content during propagation. This modal dynamics will be essential in the study of the spectroscopic dynamics of micro-confined atoms in the fiber core. For this, 2D+1 simulation tools will be developed, for the first time for hollow core optical fibers, in order to take into account the impact of surface roughness on the dynamics of optical propagation. The simulation will include Bloch's equations solving to study the opto-mechanical dynamics of atoms in the fiber. The result would lead to a unique numerical platform to simulate both the spatial modes of the atoms filled fiber, their propagative dynamics as well as the spectroscopic dynamic of the in-fiber atoms.

The second objective will focus on the design of new fiber structures able to preferentially guide modes with specific spatial structures and able to modify their opto-mechanical impact on atoms, and therefore to carry out "intra-fiber" atom optics experiments such as trapping and cooling of atoms or the atom-surface interaction investigation. These will be the necessary milestones for the development of a cold atom PMC.

The PhD program will be undertaken in collaboration with the University of Modena in Italy.

The PhD work will be undertaken at the Gas-Phase Photonic and Microwave Materials group (GPPMM) at Xlim CNRS research Institute, University of Limoges, France. The GPPMM is world renowned research group for its mix of experimental and theoretical investigations into new hollow-core photonic crystal fibres (HC-PCF) and their applications in nonlinear and quantum optics applications. The group works in an inventive and highly interactive environment, with internal interactions being complemented by active international collaborations. Limoges is a pleasant and attractive city in the west-central France, close to Bordeaux and just 2½ hours by train from Paris.

Profile

1. To work with others in the Gas-Phase Photonic and Microwave Materials group to develop novel fiber modal propagation simulation tool including impact of surface roughness on the dynamics of optical propagation. With the goal to understand more deeply opto-mechanical and spectroscopic dynamics of micro-confined atoms in the fiber core.

2. To be in close relation with colleagues working on optical experiments involving cold atom, HCPCF and signal processing.

3. To prepare written reports for the project, to attend project meetings, and to interact with other parties involved in the project.

4. To prepare scientific papers for publication, both in international journals and at conferences. To attend conferences in order to present the results of research and to interact with the broader scientific community.

5. To work on related scientific projects as required.

6. To report on a regular basis to the project investigator.

The prospective PhD student should have a background in one or more of the following: numerical simulation, modal solving, fibre photonics, nonlinear and quantum optics, atom optics.

For more information on the position please contact Prof Fetah Benabid (f.benabid@xlim.fr, in Cc benoit.debord@xlim.fr), send CV and motivation letter.

Skills/Qualifications

REQUIRED LANGUAGES : ENGLISH: Excellent, FRENCH : Desired
QUALIFICATIONS : Master or equivalent level in physics, optics or photonics-related discipline

EXPERIENCES/KNOWLEDGE :
Computing simulations
Experimental optics
Optical fibers
Laser metrology
Atom optics

• SKILLS :
Time management
Team work
Scientific writing

• ATTRIBUTES:
Team worker
Motivated
Hard worker
Initiative
Ability to communicate

Salary (gross annual): according to experience

Organization: University of LIMOGES
Research Field: Physics - Optics

Application deadline: 29/02/2024

Offer starting date: 01/05/2024
Duration: 36 months

Responsible: Prof. Fetah Benabid

Location: Xlim Institute
123, avenue Albert Thomas, Limoges 87060, France

Type of contract: Temporary
Job status: Full-time

EU research framework: H2020 / FETOPEN