Microwave Quantum Optics via Organic Spin Chemistry

The PhD project will involve the discovery, characterization and application of quantum spin materials for ultra-sensitive detectors and ultra-low-noise signal processing. These materials are generally molecular crystal grown from solution or through solidification (Bridgman method) and contain paramagnetic molecules. Though randomly doped materials (such as pentacene in para-terphenyl) have proven useful, we are striving to construct perfect co-crystals with lower broadening. Depending on progress with the basic technology, several applications are conceivable (in the latter years of your PhD work). These include detecting single microwave photons bounced of the moon and the development of new types of quantum machine, such as heat engines, that exploit entanglement between spin and photons occupying electromagnetic modes. The research path will need to be flexible and adapt to breakthroughs made elsewhere.