Postdoctoral Researcher in the Field of Experimental Ultra-low Temperature Physics

Postdoctoral Researcher in the Field of Experimental Ultra-low Temperature Physics

Aalto University - School of Science

Espoo, Finland

From € 4,130 up to € 4,550 per month

We are looking for a talented condensed matter experimentalist to work on time crystals realized in superfluid helium-3 on a world-wide unique ultra-low-temperature infrastructure at Aalto University School of Science. In this position you will have a chance to make fundamental discoveries in the physics of the new state of matter, time crystals, coupled to versatile topological materials. These discoveries may pave the way for applications of time crystals in quantum measurements and as long-coherence-time elements of quantum devices.

In recent years we developed one of the most robust realization of time crystals as Bose-Einstein condensates of magnon quasiparticles in helium-3 at temperatures below 200 μK. Our current goal is to couple such a time crystal to a nanomechanical oscillator to create an equivalent optomechanical system. As a next step, we will use well-developed optomechanical protocols to implement ultra-sensitive, potentially quantum-enhanced probes based on magnon time crystals and operating in the frequency and temperature ranges inaccessible to traditional optomechanics. Additionally, we intend to move the magnon time crystals within the superfluid using magnetic traps to build the first ever scanning microscope for topological phases of helium-3. This will allow to probe and control edge states at the topological phase boundaries and Majorana modes in the cores of half-quantum vortices.

Your role

Your tasks will include the design of the experiment, participation in the fabrication of devices and samples, implementing and carrying out measurements at ultra-low temperatures, analysis of the data and preparation of publications, supervision of graduate students, participation in international collaborations, as well as interaction with theorists.

The work is done as teamwork in the Topological Quantum Fluids research group at the Department of Applied Physics, Aalto University. You will have a chance to participate also in other projects ongoing in the group: a laboratory simulator of the neutron star dynamics in rotating superfluid helium-3 and studies of vortex dynamics in superfluid helium-4 using nanomechanical sensors.

Your experience and ambitions

We are looking for a highly motivated researcher with eagerness to work on tough experimental challenges on the frontier of quantum science. We expect the candidates to have:

• PhD degree in physics;
• Experience in experimental research on superfluids;
• Mastering of micro and nanofabrication techniques;
• Knowledge of optomechanical and nuclear magnetic resonance techniques is desirable;
• Understanding of fermionic superfluidity/superconductivity and topological materials is beneficial;
• Working skills in data analysis and automation of experiments with MATLAB, Python, or equivalent;
• Experience on operating dilution or nuclear demagnetization refrigerators;
• Excellent skills in English. Finnish language is not required.