Place : Palaiseau
Manager : S. Schwartz / A. Bonnin
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