Post-doc (Research Adiunkt) in FET-Open H2020 project “TopoLight”

COMPETITION OPENING DATE 17 NOVEMBER 2022

This research will be carried out in the Polariton Laboratory at the Division of Solid State at the Institute of Experimental Physics at the Faculty of Physics of the University of Warsaw, under the FET-Open program Horizon 2020 project No. 964770 TOPOLIGHT "Soft matter platform for optical devices via engineering of non-linear topological states of light". TopoLight is a consortium of five renowned research centres: the University of Warsaw (coordinator, Poland), IBM Zurich (Switzerland), University of Southampton (Great Britain), Institut Pascal CNRS (France), Military University of Technology (Poland). Scientists will work together on liquid crystal (LC) optical devices that will use nonlinear topological states of light.

TopoLight deals with non-linear effects in room temperature Bose-Einstein condensates (BEC) and topological states of light uncovering astonishing possibilities of external electrical control over spin-orbit interaction due to artificially engineered fields acting on photons. With a two main technological approaches: originating from solid-state physics and developing molecular control of LC devices, we aim to demonstrate novel systems of tunable topological emitters based on room temperature BEC. Within the TopoLight project we will fabricate and investigate photonic structures to start an innovative integrated hybrid organic/liquid-crystal system substantial in topological photonics and information encoding. We will create topologically protected states of light: unidirectional flow robust against backscattering and vortex states carrying quantised angular momentum. We will utilise the strong non-linearities observed in organic microcavities and optical spin orbit-coupling in liquid-crystal cavities to the demonstrate single photon polarisation switches capable for ternary logic. Our platform will combine a strong emissivity with the ease of fabrication, low costs, and scalability and room temperature operation.

The project will be carried out in the Polariton laboratory (University of Warsaw) in the group of Prof. Jacek Szczytko, who coordinates the work of the entire consortium.

The requirements

1. PhD in physics (preferable: solid state physics or optics)

2. At least 5 year of experience in scientific research in the optical laboratory: measurements of reflection, transmission, luminescence, work with CW and pulsed laser sources. Experience with optical microcavities can be an advantage.

3. Scientific publications in Q1 journals in the field (according to Web of Science)

4. Conference presentations in the form of posters and oral presentations of candidate results at prestigious scientific conferences or seminars

5. Ability to theoretical modeling of physical phenomena. Knowledge of Mathematica, Matlab, Python, C++ etc.

6. Ability to program laboratory devices (e.g. LabView, Python, C++ etc.) and an experience in work with optoelectronic devices

7. Knowledge of the English language at the level of at least B2

The candidates have to confirm to the conditions stated in art. 113 of Higher Education Law dated 20.07.2018. (Journal of Laws of the Republic of Poland 2022, item 574)