PhD Studentship: Experiments for Testing Gravity of Small Masses

PhD Supervisor: Prof Hendrik Ulbricht

Supervisory Team: Prof Hendrik Ulbricht

Project description: The University of Southampton is expanding its PhD research in the area of Quantum Technology Engineering. In addition to the research project outlined below you will receive substantial training in scientific, technical, and commercial skills.

In this PhD project you will join our ongoing effort for setting up two-mass (source mass & probe mass) experiments in low-noise settings for probing the inverse square law scaling for accelerations below 10^-11 m/s². Modifications of gravity, such as by new particles and interactions, predict deviations from Newton’s law and indeed the general relativistic scaling with distance. Gravity has never been tested in this regime and opposing theoretical predictions exist about what we might find in our experiments. One big question we aim to explore is how the gravity generated by a mass in spatial superposition actually looks like. We will probe gravity in a new regime for small acceleration and small source masses. Our experiments -which you will join- are using levitated mechanics, where optical, electric, or magnetic fields are used to trap nanometre to micrometre sized particles in vacuum, which are superb probes of gravity, and are optimised to reduce systemic effects.

We are looking for students with a keen interest in table-top gravity experiments on the boundary to quantum mechanics. Our experiments are notoriously pushing the boundaries of technical capabilities in a fundamental physics context and we are looking for motivated people who share such ambition.

If you are interested, please contact the supervisor for more information: Prof Hendrik Ulbricht h.ulbricht@soton.ac.uk

Entry Requirements

A very good undergraduate degree (at least a UK 2:1 honours degree, or its international equivalent).

Closing date: 31 August 2024. 

Applications will be considered in the order that they are received, the position will be considered filled when a suitable candidate has been identified.

Funding: We offer a range of funding opportunities for both UK and international students, including Bursaries and Scholarships.  For more information please visit PhD Scholarships | Doctoral College | University of Southampton  Funding will be awarded on a rolling basis, so apply early for the best opportunity to be considered.

How To Apply

Apply online: Search for a Postgraduate Programme of Study (soton.ac.uk). Select programme type (Research), Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences, next page select “PhD iMR”. In Section 2 of the application form you should insert the name of the supervisor.

Applications should include:

• Curriculum Vitae
• Two reference letters
• Degree Transcripts/Certificates to date

For further information please contact: feps-pgr-apply@soton.ac.uk

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