Post Bachelor
The research associate will contribute to a team which is attempting to design, build, and operate the
world’s first optical network of superconducting quantum computers. This interdisciplinary project
entails the design and construction of nonlinear optical systems capable of generating quantum states
of light, precision measurements of those states, and the distribution of this light as an entanglement
resource. At the nodes of the network, novel microwave-optical transducers operating in a cryogenic
environment will establish the vital interconnect with the qubit states of the superconducting quantum
processors. Through a NIST cleanroom fabrication effort, the transducers are being engineered into
reliable, modular, telecom-ready devices. The associate will have the opportunity to become involved
with multiple aspects of this project while strengthening an array of skills through hands-on laboratory
tasks, design challenges, and data analysis.
Quantum Networking Transduction
Required Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in a field of science, technology, engineering, or mathematics.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Knowledge of physics, electrical engineering, computer science, and/or quantum information
theory. - Experience with measurement equipment such as signal generators, oscilloscopes, spectrum
analyzers, vector network analyzers, electrical amplifiers, photodetectors, power meters, Fabry-
Perot cavities, and lock-in detectors and feedback circuits. - Familiarity with precision optical, electrical, and microwave measurement techniques.
- Knowledge of cryogenics and dilution refrigerator operating principles is advantageous.
- Ability to write code with MATLAB, LabView, and Python is required.
- Familiarity with optical design software (e.g. Zemax, Code V, OSLO), mechanical design software
(e.g. COMSOL), or microwave design software (e.g. HFSS, AWS) is desirable. - Experience with electrical circuit design, soldering, and debugging is required.
- Familiarity with opto-mechanic design, computer-aided design, and machine shop skills is
desirable. - Familiarity with building materials, hardware, and basic construction and assembly methods.
- Comfortable working with hands doing manual tasks.
- Strong oral and written communication skills.
- Design and construction of entangled photon pair sources to generate non-classical, squeezed
states of light, non-Gaussian states of light, and quantum entangled light. - Implementation of quantum measurement protocols such quantum feed forward to reduce
measurement noise below classical limits. - Design and construction of stable opto-mechanic launch systems to efficiently couple non-
classical light into and out of cryogenic optical cavity systems. - Implementation of feed-back control systems to stabilize optical frequency, phase, polarization,
and mechanical motion for coherent optical interactions and measurements. - Performance of precision optical homodyne tomography and correlated noise measurements of
quantum optical states to quantify their suitability for network operation. - Provide technical input to research problems which have been recognized as critical obstacles to
progress in quantum networking. - Prepare journal manuscripts, attend research conferences, and present technical results.
- Work as a member of a collaborative, interdisciplinary team.