PhD Studentship: Novel Atom Interferometry Techniques (with Toyota Motor Europe)

The University of Birmingham, in partnership with Toyota Motor Europe, is offering a PhD position for developing novel atom interferometry techniques for a high-data-rate quantum gravimeter aiming for gravity map-matching navigation and other applications.

Quantum gravity sensors have manifested their exceptional stability and precision for fundamental physics research and also different disciplines, including geoscience and civic engineering. More recently, people started exploring the potential of quantum gravity sensors in more dynamic settings such as marine and airborne environments. One particular application is gravity map-matching navigation.

Satellite navigation (Satnav) soon became very popular after it was open to civilian use in the late 1980s. Other technologies, including inertial and map-matching navigations, still receive substantial attention because of Satnav weaknesses, e.g. the satellite signal reception in difficult terrain, proneness to interference and spoofing. Nevertheless, drifts of inertial sensors severely hamper the accuracy of inertial navigation. The gravity map-matching technology assists inertial navigation systems to curb the drift issue by constantly tracking the gravity variation along the vehicle trajectory and comparing it with a gravity map.

The successful candidate will study novel atom interferometry techniques to address the issues related to the gravimeter operating in dynamic environments and to improve the current gravimeter design. He/she may be involved in the development of advanced atom optics to increase sensitivity. Apart from the experimental work, he/she will spend a substantial amount of time on simulation for concept validation.

General Eligibility requirements:

An undergraduate degree in Physics, Material Science, Chemistry, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering or other related disciplines, with at least 2(i) honours or equivalent.
An interest in interdisciplinary sciences and engineering, with an enthusiasm for communication.

Evidenced mathematical ability.

No prior knowledge of topology or topological physics is required.

Additional information:

The prospective candidates are expected to enjoy hands-on experiences. Background/interest in cold atom physics and quantum optics will be an advantage. Experiences and skills in electronics and Python programming language are desirable but not essential.

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