Missions

The aim of this postdoctoral project at IPCMS is to develop new opto-electromechanical systems based on van der Waals heterostructures (stacks of 2D materials) (i) in which the light emission characteristics (photon energy, absorption, radiative recombination rate, coherence, polarization, photon statistics,...) are electro-mechanically controlled, and (ii) the local mechanical stress and interfacial coupling between the 2D materials making up the heterostructure can be probed and controlled.
To this end, the model system used is an electro-mechanical resonator (nano-drum) whose active element is a van der Waals heterostructure containing one or more 2D semiconducting layers.
Keywords: condensed matter physics, van der Waals heterostructures, optical spectroscopy, opto-mechanics
Team website: https://fcbg.team

Activities

- Fabricate suspended van der Waals heterostructures in a clean room environment using transfer methods.
- Fabricate mechanical nanoresonators from these heterostructures, and characterize their optical quality and mechanical performance.
- Develop new optical and opto-electro-mechanical measurement protocols.
- Perform measurements coupling nanomechanics, optomechanics and optical microspectroscopy (Photoluminescence, Reflectance, Raman) on these devices.
- Analyze and model experimental results.
- Contribute actively to the writing of scientific articles.
- These tasks must be carried out independently, in regular interaction with the host team.

Skills

- knowledge of the physics of two-dimensional materials
- knowledge of nano(opto-)mechanics
- knowledge of light-matter interaction
- experience of working in cleanrooms (nanofabrication, strongly preferred)
- experience in experimental optics and optical spectroscopy (essential)
- mastery of electronic instrumentation (essential)
- very good level of English
- Programming skills (data analysis, interfacing)
- English: B2 level (minimum) referring to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages)

Work Context

The project will be carried out at the The Institut de Physique et Chimie des Matériaux de Strasbourg (IPCMS), within the Nano Optics and Low-Dimensional Materials team (https://fcbg.team). The team currently comprises two permanent staff members, one engineer, 4 PhD students, 1 Postdoc and one MSc interns. We interact with several of the laboratory's engineers and technicians, and are regular users of the STnano nanofabrication platform, where we assemble van der Waals heterostructures and fabricate 2D nano-resonators. As part of a transverse thematic axis, we actively collaborate with several colleagues at IPCMS and outside the laboratory (ISMO in Paris-Saclay, CESQ/ISIS in Strasbourg, LNCMI-Grenoble, LPCNO in Toulouse, Uni. Luxembourg, La Sapienza in Rome). The thesis will naturally benefit from local synergies and our network of collaborations.

Our teams are actively involved in the HOWDI (low-dimensional van der Waals heterostructures), NS-CPU (Nanosciences with near-field microscopy under ultra high vacuum) research networks (called GDR in France).

About the IPCMS
The IPCMS is a JRU (Joint Research Unit) between the CNRS & the Université de Strasbourg, with 30 years of history as a leading scientific institution at the interface between condensed matter physics, surface science, optics, material sciences, and chemistry. The CNRS is the largest interdisciplinary public research organisation in France, with more than 33,000 people working in +1,100 laboratories. Université de Strasbourg (Unistra) is one of the top French universities, hosting 4 Nobel Laureates and 1 Kavli Prize Laureate. Both CNRS & UNISTRA were awarded the HRS4R label in 2017. Since 2011, Unistra benefits from a national “Excellence Initiative (IdEx)”, which has been renewed in 2016. The most recognized areas of expertise of IPCMS are the design and fabrication of molecular and nanostructured or self-organized systems, nano-magnetism and magneto-electric coupling, spintronics, nano-electronics and optoelectronics, ultra-fast condensed matter processes, low-temperature near-field microscopy techniques, and transmission electron microscopy. Applications mainly cover new materials for information technology, health and energy. The laboratory is part of a cross-border regional context of scientific excellence in which it plays a structuring role with numerous European and international collaborations.
IPCMS is a key partner in a recently funded Interdisciplinary Thematic Institute (ITI) on quantum science and nanomaterials at Unistra (QMat). QMat associates an international graduate school and research funding that will provide numerous opportunities for the PhD candidates (teaching, tutoring, networking). State of the art workshops (mechanics, electronics), calculators, characterization platforms (electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, surface characterization) and clean room (STnano) compose an ideal and stimulating environment to perform frontier research on 2D materials.
Unistra is a partner of the QuanTEdu France programme, a national teaching initiative on quantum science and technology).
Idex, ITI and QuanTEdu France are prestigious national fundings from the “PIA”: Investments for the Future programme), allocated for a period of 10 years.

The position is located in a sector under the protection of scientific and technical potential (PPST), and therefore requires, in accordance with the regulations, that your arrival is authorized by the competent authority of the MESR.

Constraints and risks

Risks associated with the use of laser sources and cryogenic fluids (liquid nitrogen, liquid helium).
Risks associated with nanofabrication in a clean room (STnano).
Safety procedures will be taught, repeated and strictly observed throughout the project.