Early career researchers for QSNET

The QSNET consortium is building a network of atomic and molecular clocks to measure variations of the fine structure constant alpha, and the proton-to-electron mass ratio, mu. Our atomic clocks have already achieved record sensitivity in testing variations of the fine structure constant. This in turn has allowed us to derive some of the tightest limits to date on the parameter space of models of ultralight dark matter and axion-like particles. QSNET has also developed new quantum technologies based on molecular clocks and highly charged ion clocks that will allow us to achieve a step change in the sensitivity to variations of fundamental constants.
This project will enable the completion of the technological and scientific developments envisaged by QSNET by providing the necessary additional time for the early career researchers currently employed. This will allow QSNET to further improve the measurements with existing clocks, identify and characterize the clock transitions in a molecular lattice clock of CaF and a molecular ion clock of N2+, and to cool and trap highly charged ions of Cf. All this will set the stage for the second phase of the QSNET project, where all the clocks will be linked by dark fibres and the current limits on variations of alpha and mu will be improved by orders of magnitude.