Quantip
Région Ile de France
19/10/2026

News > Job > Offre de thèse
PhD scholarship on Casimir Polder force measurement in silicon nanostructures

Laboratory : Laboratoire de Physique des Lasers
Place : USPN, Villetaneuse
Manager : Gabriel Dutier
Offer

Context

The PhD student will participate for a fully funded Marie Skłodowska-Curie Doctoral Candidate position, within the Horizon Europe Doctoral Network QUEST – Quantum Electrodynamics with Silicon Nanotechnology. QUEST brings together leading European universities, research institutes, and innovative companies to advance quantum technologies through silicon nanotechnology. Within this network, you will be one of 15 doctoral candidates working on complementary research projects spanning semiconductor materials, nanofabrication, quantum photonics, quantum electrodynamics, advanced characterization, and theoretical modelling.

This Ph.D. project will take place at the Laser Physics Laboratory in University Sorbonne Paris North in Villetaneuse campus. Apart from the time at LPL, there will be secondments of minimum three months at Denmark Technical University, DTU, for nanofabrication in Copenhagen (Denmark) and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin (Germany) for theoretical investigations, LACE Lithography in Bergen (Norway) is our industrial partner for future applications. There will also be regular meetings with the other 14 Ph.D. students in the doctoral network, including 2 training schools and 2 workshops.

As a participant of the project, the PhD student will become part of a team at LPL with experimental expertise in atomic physics and nanotechnology. The activities within the project will benefit from synergies with other projects in the group as well as with other activities at the laboratory. The main supervisor will be Prof. Gabriel Dutier, LPL USPN.

Missions

Atom surface interactions in vacuum, the Casimir-Polder (CP) potential, have been studied for 30 years struggling with typical distances under 100 nm between atom and surface for a noticeable signal. Transmission gratings crossed by cold metastable Argon recently demonstrate an undeniable better control of both theoretical and experimental parameters for fundamental physics [1-3].

Nevertheless, having the possibility to control the atomic internal state in a region where CP potential is strong enough leads to a completely different category of new phenomena due to the complexity and enhancement of CP for excited atomic states. As examples, one can mention CP control (enhanced, reduced or repulsive, quantum friction) to more exotic quantum entanglement manifestation as collective effects in Casimir Forces [4]. Technical challenge remains to realize a resonant light coupling inside a 2D photonic crystal fibre injected for vacuum constraint. Theoretical investigation will be focused to make the EM evanescent field as homogeneous as possible inside the holes. Experimental constraints impose yet a minimum membrane size of 300 x 100 micrometers.

Scientific repercussions are both fundamental and technological. An achieved control of the diffraction picture through a single nanograting with light leads to the possibility of integrated gravimeters and gyroscopes with a close loop interferometer (3 successive nanogratings) as breakthrough quantum sensors.

Profile

We are looking for an engineer or physicist with excellent academic records and who has ideally already demonstrated scientific achievements. We are interested in working with candidates who are highly motivated, reliable, self-driven, and have demonstrated during their Master thesis excellence in theoretical physics, electromagnetics, numerical modelling, or quantum optics. Other qualities of the successful candidate:

  • Is academically curious and thinks deeply and creatively
  • Takes responsibility for the progress and quality of the project.
  • Communicates well in both written and spoken English
  • Is empathetic and enjoys working with others from diverse backgrounds.

You must have a two-year master’s degree (120 ECTS points) or a similar degree with an academic level equivalent to a two-year master’s degree. Candidates with a strong background in photonics, quantum optics, laser physics and numerical techniques are preferred. Only candidates with a GPA belonging to the very top can expect to be called for interview.

Due to the mobility rules of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie program, you must not have resided or carried out your main activity (work, studies, etc.) in France for more than 12 months in the 36 months immediately before the recruitment date.

19/10/2026

News > Job > Offre de thèse
PhD position on Interfacing molecular gases with silicon photonic platforms: Precision Casimir-Polder and cavity QED experiments

Laboratory : Laboratoire de Physique des Lasers
Place : USPN, Villetaneuse
Manager : Athanasios Laliotis
Offer

Context

The PhD student will participate in QUEST, an international consortium funded by the EU Marie Skłodowska-Curie Doctoral Networks program. QUEST brings together six universities and five companies from seven European countries and will train a cohort of 15 PhD students. The individual PhD projects are united by a common scientific theme, QUantum Electrodynamics with Silicon nanoTechnology, with the overarching goal of exploring and developing silicon-based quantum electrodynamics at the deep nanoscale.

This PhD project will be carried out at the Laboratoire de Physique des Lasers (LPL), Université Sorbonne Paris Nord (USPN), in the Paris area. As part of the QUEST network, possible secondments at partner institutions include Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin (K. Busch and F. Intravaia) for QED theory and modeling of Casimir–Polder forces; LENS in Florence (C. Toninelli) to explore an alternative approach to molecular cavity-QED experiments; and the Technical University of Denmark (DTU, S. Stobbe) for silicon nanocell and high-Q cavity fabrication. The student will also interact regularly with the other 14 QUEST PhD students through consortium meetings, training schools, and workshops.

The PhD student will work within the SAI team at LPL. The team has strong expertise in experimental quantum electrodynamics and nanophotonics and has developed unique spectroscopic tools to probe atomic and molecular gases at the nanoscale, with applications to Casimir–Polder interaction measurements and near-field quantum sensing. The PhD project will benefit from strong synergies within the QUEST network, as well as from the team’s extensive network of national and international collaborations. The PhD will be supervised by Assoc. Prof. Athanasios Laliotis.

Missions

Atomic gases (hot atoms) provide powerful and elegant tools for fundamental physics and for quantum sensing of electromagnetic fields. The SAI group at USPN has developed unique precision spectroscopic techniques to probe hot atomic vapors at nanometric distances from surfaces, enabling experimental tests of thermal effects in Casimir–Polder (CP) interactions, a long-elusive prediction of QED [1,2]. Extending these approaches to molecular physics is a fascinating prospect. Molecules possess a rich internal structure and ultra-narrow transitions, offering new opportunities for fundamental physics studies. The SAI group has recently extended its nanoscale spectroscopy techniques to molecular gases, pioneering precision spectroscopy in molecular thin cells [3,4].

The use of molecular rovibrational transitions opens new perspectives for photonic platforms that have traditionally relied on dielectric materials such as glass or silicon nitride. In particular, operation in the near- and mid-infrared enables the use of silicon for thin-cell (nanocell) fabrication and the development of more complex nanophotonic structures, particularly well suited for QED experiments. A major objective of this PhD project will be the fabrication of nanocells for precision measurements of molecule–surface interactions. Such interactions are of fundamental importance in physical chemistry and have attracted considerable theoretical interest because the complex geometry of molecules can give rise to anisotropic Casimir–Polder interactions. These interactions will be investigated through precision spectroscopy of acetylene or HF molecules confined in silicon nanocells. Our unique approach will directly probe differences in the surface interaction between molecular quantum states with different orientations of their rotational angular momentum relative to the surface. This platform could subsequently be extended by integrating more complex silicon nanostructures.

A further objective will be to interface acetylene, which exhibits rovibrational transitions at telecommunication wavelengths, with high-Q silicon nanocavities [5]. Coupling these two systems could provide access to molecular cavity-QED studies. Moreover, the strong confinement of electromagnetic fields within cavity gaps, on the scale of only a few nanometers, could enable molecular spectroscopy at unprecedented distances from surfaces, giving access to CP interactions in the extreme near field.

Profile

We are looking for a motivated physicist or engineer with a background in one of the following fields: quantum physics, atomic or molecular physics, photonics, laser physics, electrodynamics, or quantum optics, and with a strong interest in experimental work. Candidates must have a two-year Master’s degree (120 ECTS credits) or an equivalent degree at the same academic level. Due to the mobility rules of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie programme, candidates must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in France for more than 12 months during the 36 months immediately preceding the recruitment date.

29/09/2026

News > Job > Offre de stage
Airborne Cold-Atom Gravimeter

Laboratory : ONERA
Place : Palaiseau
Manager : Yannick Bidel
Offre

Scientific activity

Today, the wave nature of matter is harnessed to build interferometers capable of measuring accelerations and rotations with extremely high precision. In these sensors, the source of the matter waves consists of a gas of laser-cooled atoms. The interferometer is constructed by subjecting the free-falling atoms to a series of laser pulses that split and then recombine the matter wave. This technology has, in particular, enabled the development of gravimeters capable of measuring gravity aboard ships or aircraft, with an accuracy of up to 5 × 10⁻⁶ m/s². ONERA has made a significant contribution to the development of this technology through the first demonstrations of gravimetric measurements in marine and airborne environments. ONERA is currently developing a new generation of instruments that are more compact and precise, capable not only of measuring the amplitude of the gravitational field but also of determining its orientation. As part of this effort, a new gravimeter has been built, and initial, very promising tests have been conducted on a motion simulator.

The proposed internship will involve participating in the first airborne test of this second-generation gravimeter. Initially, the intern will establish a calibration procedure for the auxiliary sensors required for the gravimeter’s operation. Subsequently, the intern will participate in an in-flight measurement campaign in the Faroe Islands. Finally, they will contribute to the processing and analysis of the data acquired during the flights. This internship will allow the intern to acquire skills at the intersection of several fields: quantum physics, high-precision metrology, instrumentation, and data processing. The internship may be followed by a thesis focusing on the further development of this quantum gravimeter, with the goal of performing vector measurements of the gravitational field.

Informations

  • 2-6 months
  • January 2027
  • Experimental research
29/09/2026

News > Job > Offre de stage
Quantum Metrology of Electromagnetic Fields Using Rydberg Atoms in Optical Tweezers

Laboratory : ONERA
Place : Palaiseau
Manager : S. Schwartz / A. Bonnin
Offer

Scientific activity

Rydberg atoms, which have a very large principal quantum number preceding 1, possess remarkable properties for quantum technologies, including strong interactions that enable the generation of entanglement between atoms, and strong coupling to electromagnetic fields, which allows for the measurement of these fields with very high precision.

This internship is part of a project aimed at exploring a new generation of electromagnetic field sensors using cold Rydberg atoms. The idea is to combine the high sensitivity of Rydberg atoms with the high degree of control and coherence that can be achieved with cold atoms trapped in optical tweezers. This paves the way for new applications in a variety of fields, such as THz imaging, electromagnetic detection, the calibration of light shifts in atomic clocks, and quantum metrology experiments where entanglement between atoms is harnessed to improve measurement sensitivity.

The experimental setup demonstrated innovative methods for measuring a microwave field using cold Rydberg atoms [Phys. Rev. Applied 22, 044039; arXiv:2608.07260]. The goal of this internship is to explore new techniques for measuring electromagnetic fields using cold Rydberg atoms in optical traps.

As part of ONERA’s DPHY/SLM unit—a globally recognized leader in cold-atom-based sensors—you will also have the opportunity to collaborate with ONERA’s Electromagnetics and Radar Department as well as with our academic and industrial partners (SYRTE, Aimé Cotton Laboratory, LuMIn, IEMN, Thales TRT).

Informations

  • 4-6 months
  • Spring 2027
  • Experimental research
  • Master students

28/09/2026

News > Job > Offre de thèse
Molecular membrane fabrication for quantum technologies

Laboratory : Institut de Recherche de Chimie Paris
Place : Paris 5e
Manager : Diana Serrano
Offre

Scientific description

Rare-earth-based materials are promising platforms for quantum technologies because they combine long-lived optical and spin coherences, with nuclear spin coherence times reaching several hours in optimized crystalline hosts [1–4]. Their integration into nanophotonic structures, however, requires materials that preserve these quantum properties while being compatible with optical microcavities, waveguides and other on-chip architectures [3,5]. Molecular crystals provide an attractive alternative to conventional inorganic hosts, offering a high degree of chemical and structural tunability together with potentially versatile routes towards device integration [6].

We recently demonstrated europium molecular crystals with optical homogeneous linewidths in the tens-of-kHz range, several orders of magnitude narrower than those typically observed in molecular systems [7,8]. This platform has enabled efficient optical spin initialization, coherent light storage using an atomic frequency comb, and optical control of ion–ion interactions towards quantum-gate schemes [8]. More recently, optically detected nuclear magnetic resonance and millisecond nuclear spin coherence were demonstrated in single crystals of the same [Eu(BA)4(pip)] complex [9], further establishing these materials as promising optical–spin quantum interfaces.

So far, however, these properties have been investigated in millimetre-sized bulk crystals. Integration with photonic structures would instead benefit from thin, flat crystalline membranes that can be deterministically positioned onto a photonic chip while retaining the optical coherence of the bulk material. Adapting mechanical exfoliation and dry-transfer approaches originally developed for two dimensional materials [10,11], and encouraged by the narrow optical lines recently reported in layered rare-earth crystals [12], we have recently started exploring the fabrication of thin membranes from europium molecular crystals (Fig. 1). Preliminary experiments have produced crystalline flakes tens of micrometres in lateral size and with thicknesses approaching or below the micrometre scale, together with a first successful transfer onto a silicon carbide substrate.

Objectives

The central objective of this internship is to establish a reproducible route for fabricating europium molecular membranes and, crucially, to determine whether their exceptional optical properties are preserved after exfoliation and transfer. The student will optimize the mechanical exfoliation conditions to increase the yield of thin, large-area flakes; develop deterministic dry-transfer protocols onto photonic substrates such as SiC, SiO2/Si and glass; characterize membrane thickness, morphology and crystalline quality using optical interference microscopy, atomic force microscopy and Raman spectroscopy; and investigate their luminescence and optical homogeneous linewidths at cryogenic temperatures using spectral hole burning. Comparison with bulk crystals will allow the influence of exfoliation, reduced thickness and substrate coupling on the optical coherence of the molecular material to be established.

This work will be carried out within the CQSD team at the Institut de Recherche de Chimie Paris (IRCP). More information about the research group can be found at www.cqsd.fr.

24/09/2026

News > Event
Fête de la science 2026

3
oct.
2026
-
11
oct.
2026
09:00:00 - 18:00:00

Once again this year, the QuanTiP DIM will be at the Fête de la Science in the Paris region.

This year, the DIM is pulling out all the stops! Come visit us at our booth:

Our workshop “Light/Matter: Unraveling the Mysteries of Quantum Physics” features our optical tweezers demonstration and introduces light as a subject of study and a tool for research.

We need your help with outreach! If you’re interested in participating on one of the dates above, please send an email to quantip.anim@univ-paris13.fr

More information: quantip.org/appel-a-volontariat/

24/09/2026

News > Headline
The show “Supraconducteur!” in Paris

The family-friendly show “Supraconducteur!”*, which explores superconductivity and quantum physics, will be performed in Paris at the end of the month! It will take place at Les Frigos, next to the François Mitterrand branch of the National Library, on September 29 at 7:00 p.m., and on October 1 and 2 at 4:00 p.m., 6:00 p.m., and 8:00 p.m.

For over an hour, witness a demonstration of unprecedented physical laws! What happens inside a metal that allows it to conduct electricity without resistance or energy loss? To understand this, Hugues Pothier invites us on a journey into quantum matter. Amid nitrogen vapors and flying metals, meet these electrons that haven’t chosen between here and elsewhere.

Don’t wait any longer—reserve your free seat at the box office: Superconductor – Billetweb

*For this type of show, titled “scientific impromptu,” which features an actor and a researcher, the theater company that created it has just received the Jean Perrin Prize from the French Physical Society, which honors works that popularize science.

24/09/2026

News > Headline
HAL: The QuanTiP Collection

The DIM QuanTiP invites you to explore its HAL collection, which brings together all of the network’s publications and much more!

The HAL open archive provides you with free and transparent access to scientific results, whether already published or not. This platform is designed for researchers and has established itself as a leading resource in the French academic community.

The DIM QuanTiP has its own HAL collection, and you can contribute to it too! Simply send us your HAL code associated with your publication to quantip@univ-paris13.fr.

Our HAL collection is part of our policy of open source, transparency, and access to scientific data.

16/09/2026

News > Event
From academia to innovation

30
nov.
2026
-
2
déc.
2026
14:00:00 - 17:00:00

Place : Domaine de Saint-Paul, Saint-Rémy-lès-Chevreuse

Website

C’Nano and the QuanTiP DIM, in partnership with the DIM MaTerRE, Quantum-Saclay, and the Électronique PEPR, are organizing a residential seminar focused on commercializing research through entrepreneurship.

The seminar is free and open to all members of our networks, including doctoral students, postdocs, engineers and researchers. This training will provide you with the fundamentals of entrepreneurship (networking, strategy, finance, market research, common pitfalls, etc.) through theoretical lectures, interactive workshops, and testimonials from entrepreneurs with backgrounds in research. So, if you’re interested in the startup ecosystem and how it works, if you already have an entrepreneurial project, or if you simply want to familiarize yourself with the terminology and challenges of starting a business, this training is for you!

The seminar will take place from November 30 to December 2, 2026, at the Domaine de Saint-Paul in Saint-Rémy-lès-Chevreuse and will be led by Éric Langrognet of Limpidea Management.

Registration is open through October 30. Space is limited to 15 participants.

Program

10/09/2026

News > Headline
Open-Source Research Quantum Software Forum

The Forum on Open-Source Quantum Software for Research will be held October 5–7, 2026, at Inria in Paris.

This forum will bring together researchers, engineers, and students eager to explore, use, and contribute to the rapidly evolving open-source quantum software ecosystem.

Participation is free, and lunch and coffee breaks will be provided by the organizers. If you would like to attend, please register by September 20, 2026, by filling out the form: Open-Source Research Quantum Software Forum

The program will feature presentations by leading figures from major open-source quantum software platforms, who will provide an overview of current developments and future directions.

One afternoon will be entirely devoted to a hands-on hackathon, giving participants the opportunity to help solve outstanding problems in open-source quantum software projects, work directly with project leads, and network with other developers and researchers.

Further information about the forum, including the program and practical details, is available on the website: Open-Source Research Quantum Software Forum – index