Applications are invited for a funded PhD studentship in Theoretical and Computational Physics based within the Condensed Matter & Photonics group at Cardiff University School of Physics and Astronomy.

The studentship is funded via the College of Physical Sciences & Engineering at Cardiff University. The studentship covers tuition fees at the UK/EU rate and stipend for eligible UK and EU students.

Research students can take specialist academic courses and courses to develop their communication and personal skills through a full programme of seminars and the individual research groups holding regular meetings where members present new results and discuss their research in detail.

The School encourages active collaborations with international research groups and regular attendance at major international conferences by staff and students. There is also an annual postgraduate conference and a research student poster competition.

Project title: Exciton-Phonon-Photon Dynamics in coupled Quantum Dots embedded in Photonic Cavities

This project aims to study theoretically the coherent dynamics of optical excitations (excitons) in single and multiple semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) strongly coupled to photonic cavities. In particular, coherent coupling and control of remote QDs via optical resonators in optical circuits will be investigated. Such QDs play the role of isolated qubits, and their controlled coupling is of paramount importance for quantum technology applications.

Specific aims of the project include the calculation of:

Linear and nonlinear optical response of single and multiple QDs embedded in an optical resonator. You will consider both the coherent response (such as linear, four-wave- and six-wave-mixing polarization) and the incoherent response (such as photoluminescence).

Coherent coupling of remote QDs interacting with the same cavity or different cavities, and control of this coupling between QDs via cavity parameters.

Full coherent dynamics of the coupled exciton-phonon-photon system, using methods of many-body theory, such as diagram techniques, and clarifying the role of acoustic phonons in the coherent coupling of QDs and in the Purcell enhancement of their radiative decay inside an optical cavity.

The project is embedded in a bigger funded research activity [1,2] at Cardiff School of Physics and Astronomy and will benefit from a close collaboration with an experimental research team working on the controlled long-range coherent coupling of quantum dots via cavities. Comparing theory with measured optical data, fundamental mechanisms of the coherent coupling will be understood and important parameters of the measured systems will be extracted for predictive modelling of QD systems embedded in complex quantum circuits.

About Cardiff University

The University is a member of the Russell Group and internationally recognised as one of Britain’s leading universities.

Our University Graduate College enhances the postgraduate experience by providing an extensive training and support programme.

The University is attractively located at the heart of a modern capital city, providing a high quality of life to our students.

To find out more about this opportunity, please visit our website.

Cardiff University reserves the right to close the advert early should sufficient applications be received.