Are you ready to contribute to cutting edge research at SINTEF — Scandinavia’s largest independent research organisation — and help us shape technology for a better society?
Host: SINTEF Industry, Department for Sustainable Energy Technology, Research groups Thin Film and Membrane Technology and Material Physics Oslo.
Degree-awarding institution: University of Oslo (UiO)
Supervisors:
Prof. Justin Wells (UiO)
Dr. Donald Evans (SINTEF)
Dr. Marit Stange (SINTEF)
Background:
Quantum technologies are opening new possibilities in secure communication, sensing, metrology, and information processing. Many of these advances rely on detecting single photons with extreme precision and superconducting nanowire singlephoton detectors (SNSPDs) are among the most powerful tools for this task, particularly around the communication wavelength of 1.55 μm.
Project description:
This PhD project explores the fabrication and characterization of the superconducting materials that underpin next‑generation SNSPDs, aiming to improve their operating temperature, faster reset time, and reduced timing jitters.
Some of the critical barriers that underpin all superconducting based quantum technologies, including SNSPDs, are associated with defect-driven performance loss, for instance via pinning sites, and variability of the strength of the superconducting order parameter.
The PhD research fellow will grow superconducting thin films for quantum devices using multiple techniques including: pulse laser deposition (PLD), sputtering, and in-situ deposition. Starting materials include copper- and silicon-based superconductors and/or high-entropy alloys (HEA). The PhD project will also work to implement new spatially resolved direct in-situ diagnostics to provide specific feedback for fabrication optimisation to give high performance superconducting thin films. There will be opportunities to travel and collaborate with state-of-the-art international institutes, including in the UK and Denmark.
In particular, the PhD Research Fellow will deal with
- Film deposition: PLD, sputter, and in situ deposition
- Characterisation by techniques including macroscopic resistivity, magnetization, specific heat, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), photoemission electron microscopy (PEEM), and conducting atomic force microscopy (cAFM)
The PhD research fellow will be affiliated with SINTEFs groups Thin Film and Membrane and Material Physics Oslo in Oslo (more info) and Solid-State Physics and Quantum Technology research division at UiO with around 60 highly dedicated professors, researchers, postdocs, PhD Research Fellows, engineers, administrative staff and master students. The associated research groups have excellent infrastructure, at SINTEF and MiNaLab, covering chemical, structural, optical and electrical characterization methods, material growth, device fabrication and simulations
Required criteria:
- Master’s degree or equivalent in relevant field
- Foreign completed degree (M.Sc.-level) corresponding to a minimum of four years in the Norwegian educational system
- Solid background in solid state physics relevant to quantum technology
- Willingness to work in a team
- A positive and goal orientated attitude
- Fluent oral and written communication skills in English
Desirable criteria:
- Relevant experience, for instance with the listed materials or techniques
- A strong master’s thesis, ideally in a related area.
Timeline:
Candidates will be rapidly shortlisted after the position closes. We hope to interview relevant candidates before the summer holidays, to facilitate a start date in September.
