The Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST) is a Research and Technology Organization (RTO) active in the fields of materials, environment, and IT. By transforming scientific knowledge into technologies, smart data and tools, LIST empowers citizens in their choices, public authorities in their decisions and businesses in their strategies.

You will be part of the LIST Materials Research and Technology department

Through its research into advanced materials and processes, the “Materials Research and Technology” (MRT) department, with its 200 researchers and engineers, contributes to the emergence of enabling technologies that underpin the innovation processes of local and international industry. MRT’s activities hinge on four thematic pillars: nanomaterials and nanotechnology, scientific instrumentation and process technology, structural composites, and functional polymers.

The department also includes four high-tech platforms, focusing on composites, prototyping, characterization, and testing. These platforms serve both LIST research staff, and other stakeholders in Luxembourg.

Context

Quantum computers have the potential to revolutionise the world in many aspects. However, currently pursued platforms lack the potential to scale up systems to 1000s of qubits due to the use of fundamentally low-coherence systems and/or systems that can hardly be connected to each other.

Our strategy is to develop a scalable quantum computing architecture based on colour centres in an industrial semiconductor, silicon carbide. The use of industry-compatible semiconductor fabrication processes will allow us to produce massive amounts of qubits. Individual qubits will be based on spin systems (electron and nuclear spins), which are connected through a photonic bus.

Mission

The objective of this PhD thesis is to develop a robust qubit platform based on colour centres in silicon carbide and demonstrate distributed quantum computing.

From the hardware side, qubits will be connected to each other through a photonic bus, which is enabled by the integration of colour centres into nanophotonic circuits. These circuits will be fabricated at LIST, benefitting from a strong collaboration with University of Stuttgart (Germany) and Stanford University (USA). One to two research secondments in Stuttgart are foreseen. To demonstrate true system scalability, we aim at circuit fabrication processes that are compatible with SiC industry standards.

From the software side, a distributed quantum computing architecture requires programs to synchronise different qubits and to maintain ideal (quantum) network properties. These programs/modules will be developed and used in the second half of the PhD.

Required seniority:

MSc in physics, quantum technology or materials science.

Required technical skills:

• Excellent written and oral communication skills e.g., as demonstrated through publications, reports, and/or presentations.
• Collaborative skills, initiative, result oriented, organization, and capacity to work in an interdisciplinary environment.
• A strong taste for experimental science. Team spirit is also a must.
• Experience with cleanroom equipment, especially reactive ion etching and electron microscopy.
• Hardware control via python is a plus.
• Experience with (nano-)photonic design in Ansys Lumerical is a plus.
• Ability to coordinate with the supervisor and collaborators effectively and reliably.

Language requirements:

• Proficient level of English is required.
• French and/or German is a plus.

Opening date:

As soon as possible.

Contact: Dr. Florian Kaiser