Postdoc position: Superradiance on ytterbium clock transition for frequency metrology

FEMTO-ST; France; On-site; EUR 34,000 - 42,000; Full time

Job summary

FEMTO-ST in France seeks a Researcher for a Postdoctoral position in the Time and Frequency group. The project focuses on superradiant lasers using cold atoms and a high-finesse cavity, aiming to observe superradiance on the clock transition of ytterbium.

You will participate in transporting atoms to the cavity and conducting high-resolution spectroscopy to explore atom-cavity coupling and quantum correlations.

Qualifications

• PhD or equivalent in physics or a closely related field.
• Experience with cold atoms experiments is required.
• Experience in metrology is appreciated.

Responsibilities

• Contribute to experiments observing superradiance in ytterbium.
• Transport ytterbium atoms to the cavity using an optical conveyor belt.
• Perform high-resolution spectroscopy to estimate atom-cavity coupling and study quantum correlations.

Job description

Organisation/Company FEMTO-ST Department Time and Frequency Research Field Physics Quantum mechanics Physics Metrology Researcher Profile Recognised Researcher (R2) Positions Postdoc Positions Application Deadline 21 Oct 2026 - 12:00 (Europe/Paris) Country France Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Full-time Hours Per Week 38.5 Offer Starting Date 1 Jan 2027 Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Not funded by a EU programme Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description

Superradiant lasers are based on cold atoms with a narrow-linewidth optical transition coupled to a high-finesse Fabry-Perot cavity. Superradiance emerges as the constructive quantum interference between the various decay paths from a many-body fully excited state to the ground state. A superradiant laser uses directly the enhanced atomic emission inside the cavity as the ultra-stable signal.

The goal of this project is to exploit quantum coupling between atoms and cavity to observe superradiance with an ytterbium gas. The next experimental objective is to transport ytterbium atoms to the cavity via an optical conveyor belt. In the cavity, we will perform high-resolution spectroscopy of an ultra-cold ytterbium ensemble coupled to a single mode high finesse Fabry-Perot cavity to estimate the atom-cavity coupling. The next objectives will focus on the first observation of superradiance on the clock transition of ytterbium. Then, we will transport a second atomic ensemble inside the cavity and study the emergence of quantum correlations between the two ensembles.

Requirements

Research Field Physics Quantum mechanics Education Level PhD or equivalent

Skills/Qualifications

A PhD or at least experience in the field of cold atoms experiments is expected. Experience in metrology would be appreciated.

Specific Requirements

Candidates should provide their CV and the name of at least one person who could provide a recommendation letter.