Missions

The Atom Interferometry and Inertial Sensors group of SYRTE opens a 2-year post-doctoral position dedicated to development of ultra-sensitive gravi-gradiometers. The applicant will be involved into two ongoing projects: the research on the novel technologies to enhance the sensitivity and accuracy of SYRTE atomic gradiometer; and the EU Horizon collaborative project FIQUgS (https://www.fiqugs.eu/) on mobile quantum gravimetry for geophysics applications.

Activities

The main activities include:
- participating in the indoor metrological evaluation/test campaign for quantum gravimeter and gradiometer: planning, modelling, implementation, data analysis etc. (within the FIQUgS project)
- research and development of novel technologies for enhanced sensitivity of atomic inertial sensors, implemented for gravi-gradiometry: (i) large momentum tranfer atom-optics enhanced with quantum optimal control (SYRTE gradiometer)
(ii) last generation of top-hat laser beam-shaping (FIQUgS and SYRTE gradiometer)
(iii) sources of ultracold atoms / BEC on atom chip (auxiliary table-top experiment) for further implementation into SYRTE gradiometer)
- metrological characterization of the SYRTE gradiometer and study of its limits in terms of stability and accuracy

Skills

- expertise in experimental cold-atom physics
- preferably, experience in atom interferometry and/or metrology domain

Work Context

SYRTE is a French National Metrology Institute conducting research in diverse domains ranging from Earth rotation and Space geodesy, to frequency metrology and atomic inertial sensing.
The applicant will join the Atom Interferometry and Inertial Sensors (French acronyme IACI) group, one of the major international players in the domain (see R. Geiger et al., AVS Quantum Sci. 2, 024702 (2020)). With over 20 years of cutting-edge research, our group operates the state-of-the-art cold-atom gravimeter and gyroscope (favorably competing with their classical counterparts in terms of precision and accuracy) and develops new habilitating technologies and instruments: trapped-atom force sensor, atomic gyroscope on a chip (perspective full inertial measurement unit), and gravi-gradiometer sensor. The instrumental (mechanical, optical and ultra-high vacuum) and electronics devisions of SYRTE provide an indispensable support to our experimental work. The IACI group has also successful experience of technological transfer to industry bringing the first commercial absolute quantum gravimeter by Exail company (former MuQuans: spin-off of SYRTE and LP2N) - our long-term industrial partner.
The post-doc will work in a dynamic team consisting of three permanent researchers and two PhD students, with a significant scientific autonomy and responsibilities in daily supervision of experiments. Within the projects, he/she will have an opportunity to interact with a number of academic and industrial partners of the group and benefit from in-house theoretical support.
The position funding is assured for 2 years, while the application to external fellowships can be supported once a post-doc joins the project. Our group commits to the concept and implementation of equal opportunities policy and, in particular, encourages the application of women candidates.

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.

Additional Information

Key words: atom interferometry, inertial sensor, cold atoms, gravimetry, gradiometry, quantum optimal control