Description du sujet de thèse

PhD studentship in theoretical physics: opto-mechanical oscillator network for neuromorphic computation

Context. Recent progress in micro and nanofabrication enabled to design micro and nanoresonators, the mechanical properties of which are controlled by external gate voltages and electronic currents. In particular, SiN drum resonators [1] were shown to have large capacitive coupling to the gate electrode and high-quality factors, thus making them ideal candidates for further integration into circuits. Indeed, arrays of such micro and nano resonators, were predicted to synchronize due to their large mechanical non-linearities [2,3], low dissipation rate, and mutual mechanical and optomechanical coupling. This suggest to use them in innovative devices as elementary building blocks for performing neuromorphic calculations [4,5].

In this PhD project, financed by the French Agence National Recherche (ANR), we will investigate from the theoretical physics point of view, the mechanism of phase synchronization of arrays of SiN drum resonators, coupled to a single microwave optomechanical circuit. The goal will be to understand these systems and to explore their capabilities as neural networks. We will also to investigate their behavior in the quantum regime.


The candidate profile. The candidate for the PhD project should have a master degree in physics. A background in the condensed matter physics, quantum optics, mesoscopic physics, or statistical physics would be a plus.

References:
[1] X. Zhou, et al., Nano Letters, 21, 13, 5738-5744 (2021)
[2] M. H. Matheny, et al., Phys.Rev.Lett. 112, 014101 (2014).
[3] G. Heinrich, et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 107, 043603 (2011).
[4] M. Romera, et al., Nature 563, 230–234 (2018)
[5] Frank C. Hoppensteadt, et al., IEEE Transactions, 48, 2, 133-138, (2001).

Contexte de travail

The candidate will be supervised by Fabio Pistolesi and Rémi Avriller in LOMA, a laboratory of CNRS and of the University of Bordeaux. He (she) will benefit from a dynamic scientific environment. The project is financed by the ANR and implies two experimental groups (one in Grenoble and the other in Lille), with whom the project will be developed.

Contraintes et risques

The candidate can contact for any query F. Pistolesi or R. Avriller, Fabio.Pistolesi@u-bordeaux.fr, Remi.Avriller@u-bordeaux.fr. He/She should arrange for two recommandation letters.