Low-temperature spectroscopy and quantum memory in molecular lanthanide crystals

Applications of quantum communication and computers range from cybersecurity to vastly increased computational capability. In most realizations of these, Quantum Memory (QM) is a key component. A promising platform for QM is Rare-Earth-Ion doped materials (characterized by their unique long-lived and well-isolated electronic states), with crystals made of molecular complexes being a recent appealing sub-category. The group at the PSL university have performed comprehensive spectroscopic analyses and implemented QM in a europium molecular complex. During this project we will characterize new molecular hosts containing Eu using low-temperature spectroscopic techniques mastered by the host team. These include photon echoes and spectral hole burning in crystallites at temperature from 40 mK to 20 K, with the goal of understanding the mechanisms limiting the optical coherence. Since the host group are leaders in research on this novel platform, which is aligned with my PhD project on molecular complexes, I anticipate gaining a deeper understanding of the theoretical and experimental background, gaining techniques that I can later apply to my own project. The project will allow strengthening the collaboration and foster future work based on synergies between the involved Canadian and French institutions.

Faculty Supervisor:

Daniel Oblak

Student:

Partner:

Université Paris Sciences et Lettres;Karlsruher Institut für Technologie

Discipline:

Physics

Sector:

Education

University:

University of Calgary

Program: