LNE

Leader in the development of measurement technics and references, with a strong reputation in France and abroad as National Metrology Institute, the Laboratoire National de Metrologie et d’Essais (LNE) supports industrial innovation and is a key player in making the economy more competitive and society safer through reliable and harmonized measurements.
As the driving force behind French metrology, our research lies at the heart of our public service mission, and is a fundamental factor in supporting the academic world and the competitiveness of companies, through ever more reliable measurements on innovative subjects such as artificial intelligence, nanotechnologies and quantum technologies.

Context

One of the main current challenges in quantum electrical metrology is to simplify the operating conditions of quantum electrical standards, in order to make the International System of Units (SI) more accessible to industrial end-users. As part of the Horizon Europe FLATS « Flat bands for quantum metrology » project, LNE and its partners are seeking to exploit the high potential of Twistronics, using graphene-based van der Waals heterostructures with twist angle control, to develop new quantum electrical standards and ultra-sensitive detectors (SQUID, single electron and single photon). The ultimate aim is to combine and integrate them in a single « quantum multimeter » to progress towards self-referenced on-chip quantum sensors.

Missions

Working in LNE’s fundamental electrical metrology department, you will contribute to research activities in the field of quantum electrical metrology. Your main missions are as follows:

• Exploit and validate the strong potential of heterostructures based on graphene and hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) at the so-called « magic angle » (MATBG, for « magic angle twisted bilayer graphene »). This validation for metrology applications will involve quantum transport and ultra-low noise and high-accuracy electrical measurements, in the Josephson effect and quantum anomalous Hall effect regimes, i.e. at (very) low temperature and possibly under a magnetic field;
• Contribute to the engineering of these standards and detectors (design, modeling, etc.) and to the engineering of the associated instrumentation (particularly cryogenic) for simplified operation of these new standards and detectors;
• Analyze the data thus obtained, in conjunction with existing theoretical models;
• Ensure reporting, in particular to the European partners in the project consortium, and promote the results through scientific communications, good practice guides, and potentially through actions aimed at industrializing the technologies developed, with the filing of patents for example.

Profile

You hold a PhD degree in condensed matter physics, mesoscopic physics/quantum transport and/or quantum physics, and have strong experience in low-noise electronic transport measurements at (very) low temperatures. You have a keen interest in experimental science, measurement, instrumentation and technological and applied research.

Knowledge of quantum effects: Josephson effect and quantum Hall effect, is required. Specific knowledge of graphene physics would be highly appreciated.

You are able to analyze results and synthesize information. Pragmatic by nature, you are rigorous, critical and self-reliant. You enjoy teamwork, and are able to organize yourself to take part in several projects (at LNE and in European projects).

Fluency in scientific English is essential for the promotion of work (writing articles, conferences, meetings, etc.) and collaboration with the project’s European partners.

Occasional travel is required for scientific exchanges necessary to the mission (project meetings with European partners, international conferences, etc.) in Paris suburb, France, Europe and Internationally.