PhD Studentship: Noise-to-Signal: Reimagining Ultrafast Optical Spectroscopies to Capture Fluctuating Dynamics in Quantum Materials

Supervisors:

Supervisors:  Dr. Raj Pandya (Chemistry), Prof. James Lloyd-Hughes (Physics), Prof. Animesh Datta (Physics)

Summary:  Optical pump-probe spectroscopy is the go-to method for capturing ultrafast (femtosecond) dynamics in solid-state materials and has been used to understand everything from magnetism to photosynthesis. The problem is that pump-probe methods can only capture the ‘average’ dynamics in a system. This means that rapid fluctuations in electronic excitations, critical to phenomena like superconductivity, ion transport or (quantum) phase transitions, remain inaccessible.

This project will revolutionise the information limits of pump-probe spectroscopy. We will build quantitative analytical/computational models of the experiment to derive new, universal, measurement and analysis protocols for capturing ultrafast nonequilibrium physics from pump-probe. We will then apply these methods to explore otherwise ‘hidden’ properties, e.g., quantum entanglement, in solid-state materials. The project is ideal for a student with interests in quantum dynamics, information theory/AI and stochastic physics, with close links to experimentalists.

The project is highly collaborative, with access to state-of-the art resources and opportunities for secondments to groups in Europe/USA as well as partners in the quantum-computing industry.

https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/sci/hetsys/themes/projectopportunities/

Additional Funding Information

Awards for both UK residents and international applicants pay a stipend to cover maintenance as well as paying the university fees and a research training support. The stipend is at the standard UKRI rate.

For more details visit: https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/sci/hetsys/apply/funding/