CDT Compound Semiconductor Physics (PhD Progression 1+3)

一系列高精度计量应用需要紧凑高效的量子传感器。需要提供精确定位、导航和定时（PNT）的小型化原子钟和陀螺仪，以减轻关键基础设施对全球导航卫星系统（GNSS）的依赖。除了提供安全运输、应急服务、安全通信操作、金融服务和能源供应外，陆基PNT系统还具有极大地改善GNSS/GPS拒绝恶劣环境中的自主探索和感知的潜力。这方面的例子包括对污染物的大气监测、全球气候的变化和对偏远的可再生能源系统的检查。当前小型化原子传感器的解决方案依赖于共同包装单独制造的组件，包括体光学器件、半导体激光器和检测器。虽然这些部件中的许多都是“货架”上可用的，但组装需要复杂的光学对准，这容易受到外部影响引起的干扰，从而损害性能。 该项目的重点是开发一种化合物半导体（CS）量子传感器，该传感器将“所有III-V”电光组件（光源，检测器和光束调节光学器件，例如偏振转换器）集成到一个共同的衬底上，能够单片集成用于碱金属（如铯或铷）的泵浦/探测询问的单元。除了降低能耗外，CS集成平台还消除了与大体积光学器件相关的光损耗，并提高了热稳定性。学生将获得设计和制造这些CS组件的经验，这将有助于更广泛的活动，开发量子传感器来解决现实世界的问题。这将是与两个互补的行业赞助商合作的独特机会; CSC用于创建外延材料和国家物理实验室，学生将在那里接受培训，在他们的设施内进行测试。

Compact and efficient quantum sensors are required for a range of high-precision metrology applications. Miniaturised atomic clocks and gyroscopes which provide accurate Position, Navigation and Timing (PNT) are required to mitigate the reliance of critical infrastructures on the global navigation satellite system (GNSS).). As well as providing safe transport; emergency services; operation of secure comms; financial services and energy provisions; terrestrial-based PNT systems has the potential to vastly improve autonomous exploration and sensing within GNSS/GPS-denied harsh environments. Examples include atmospheric monitoring of pollutants, changes in global climate and inspection of remote renewable energy systems. Current solutions to miniaturise atomic sensors relies on co-packaging separately manufactured components including bulk optics, semiconductor lasers and detectors. While many of these components are available 'of the shelf', assembly requires complex optical alignment which is susceptible to disturbance caused by external influences, compromising performance. This project focusses on developing a compound semiconductor (CS) quantum sensor which integrates 'all III-V' electro-optic components (light source, detector, and beam-conditioning optics, e.g. polarisation converters) onto a common substrate with the ability to monolithically integrate a cell for pump/probe interrogation of alkali metals, such as caesium or rubidium. In addition to reducing energy consumption, a CS integrated platform negates optical losses associated with bulk optics and improves thermal stability. The student will gain experience of designing and fabricating these CS components which will contribute to a wider activity, developing quantum sensors to solve real-world problems. It will be a unique opportunity to work with two complementary industry sponsors; CSC for the creation of epitaxial material and the National Physics Lab where the student will be trained to carry out testing within their facility.