PhD positions, Planar Ge for qubits and hybrid devices, ISTA Austria

Planar Ge for qubits and hybrid devices

It is impossible to picture modern life without thinking of the vast amount of microelectronic applications that surround us. However, such development has only been made possible with the invention of the transistor in the 50’s. This – back at that time – few centimeters large device, led to a technological revolution. Today the size of the transistors has been shrunk to 7 nm and quantum physics comes into play. Researchers in basic research are trying to develop new concepts which will use quantum mechanics and allow information processing to operate on completely different principles.

In this line, Loss and DiVincenzo suggested the use of electron spins confined in lithographically defined quantum dots as elementary qubits to realize a quantum computer. In the past few years holes in Ge have emerged as a very promising platform for the realization of spin qubits, due to the small effective mass, large spin orbit coupling and absence of the valley problem faced by electron spins. In addition, in the quantum information community there has been recently a huge wave of excitement in the prospect of using protected qubits for quantum computation. Such protection can be realized on the hardware-level by using topological qubits or cleverly designed electrical circuits.

What will you do?

As a PhD candidate, you will have the exciting opportunity to work at the forefront of quantum technology research, specifically in the area of spin qubits in two dimensional Ge heterostructures and also aiming to understand whether protected qubits can be realized in hybrid semiconductor-superconductor systems. You will be fabricating your own samples in a state-of-the-art cleanroom, honing your skills in cutting-edge techniques such as electron beam lithography and metal deposition.

Beyond this, you will be responsible for measuring your samples using advanced quantum transport and microwave techniques in a dilution fridge refrigerator. Throughthese experiments, you will gain deep insights into the fundamental physics of semiconductor nanodevices.

Finally, you will get the opportunity to work in a very friendly environment in a newly build research institution which aims to attract the best students.

Requirements for students