International PhD Project in Physics of Future Quantum-Based Information Technologies, University of Gda?sk, Poland

International PhD Project:
PHYSICS OF FUTURE QUANTUM-BASED INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES

For more details please visit: http://mpd.ug.edu.pl
Project coordinator: Stanis?aw Kryszewski, mailto: fizsk[ at ]ug.edu.pl

Position: PhD student

Number of stipends: 12

Institution: University of Gda?sk,
Institute of Theoretical Physics and Astrophysics, Institute of Experimental Physics.
Address for applications: University of Gda?sk, Institute of Theoretical Physics and Astrophysics,
ul. Wita Stwosza 57, 80-952 Gda?sk, POLAND.

Our Institutes are in consortium with:
* Institüt für Quantenoptik und Quanteninformation, Austrian Academy of Sciences;
* Laboratory of Solid State Chemistry, Department of Biotechnology, University of Verona.
There are other 10 foreign collaborators. The PhD students are expected to spend 6-24 months at partner’s institutions.

Maximum period of stipend agreement: up to 31 October 2014.

Position starts on: 1 October 2010 (first recruitment earlier 17-18 June 2010, second recruitment 23-24 September 2010).
Closing date: 14 June 2010 for the first recruitment. For the second: 20 September 2010.

Stipend’s amount: 3 500 PLN (when in Poland), 5 000 PLN (when abroad).
Pension insurance: included in the stipend.

Key responsibilities include:
Active participation in one of the research projects:
1. Quantum communication and quantum techniques.
a. Study of novel multi-photon entangled states, and new ways to generate and to analyze entangled
states in the experiments.
b. Limitations of quantum informational processes.
2. Characterization of information processing by quantum networks with noise.
3. Bound entanglement and quantum information processing.
4. New approach to statistical description of quantum dynamical systems.
5. Spectroscopic characterization of materials for quantum processing.
6. Characterization of fluoride and oxide materials doped with selected Ln ions for purpose of photon down conversion
and cascade emission.
7. Modern persistent luminescence and storage materials.
8. Resonance excitation energy and polarization transfer in nanolayers.

Profile of candidates: (for more details see the Web page)
1. MA degree in physics, technical physics, mathematics (or other, with good background in physics).
2. Good command of English.
3. Motivation to conduct state-of-the-art research in theoretical and/or experimental physics.

Required documents:
1. A letter of motivation, explaining (briefly) candidate’s interests. This is especially important in case of candidates
who studied disciplines other than physics.
2. A copy of candidates MA thesis (in electronic version, preferably in .pdf format file).
3. Authenticated copy of the MA diploma, or an equivalent document proving that the candidate already passed MA exam.
4. Opinion of the candidate’s diploma supervisor.
5. Curriculum vitae containing information on:
* candidate’s education and marks he/she obtained during the studies (this should be authenticated
by corresponding authorities);
* candidates previous (if any) scientific career (publications, experience, conferences, etc.);
* other information which the candidate considers important or favorable.

For more details about the position please visit: http://mpd.ug.edu.pl

Physics of future quantum-based information technologies
Brief description of the project
Quantum information theory is a rapidly developing branch of physics. There are, for example, safe communication protocols which exclude eavesdropping. Security of communication does not depend on the ingenuity od ciphering, it is due to the laws of nature — principles of quantum mechanics, the rules of which are quite different from intuitively obvious laws of classical physics. Results of the current research allow us to hope that it will be possible to construct quantum computers with computational speeds considerably exceeding those of the contemporary computers.

The project has definitely scientific character. We plan to conduct fundamental and highly specialized research on the techniques of information manipulation by the methods stemming from principles of quantum mechanics.

Quantum entanglement plays essential role both in the theory and in experiment. The phenomenon of entanglement is known since Schroedinger times. Only recently it was realized that it is a fundamental resource of quantum information theory. Large part of the planned research will be devoted to further studies of entanglement both experimentally and theoretically.

New methods to produce and detect the entangled states will be sought. This requires a close cooperation between theoreticians and experimentalists. This will be accomplished by wide collaboration with foreign laboratories which possess the “state of the art” most advanced equipment.

Another important goal is to investigate the properties of the entangled states which ensure the safe communication and information exchange. This is connected with the study of various correlations, frequently yet unknown and never existing in the realm of classical physics. Study of such correlations has practical implications in secure information transfer.

They also have fundamental importance - in quantum probabilistic theory.

In must be remembered that every physical system interacts with its environment. Such interactions result in the decay of correlations. Since the latter are so essential the analysis of such decays needs to be investigated. Moreover, the ways to circumvent the losses due to the surrounding It seems reasonable to say, that the number of questions concerning quantum entanglement is indeed large.

Therefore the project addresses a multitude of problems. It is also possible that new developments will open completely new and unexpected vistas which will lead to fascinating new ideas and discoveries.

Last, but not least, the project has a distinctive experimental aspect. New materials are essential in new technologies and applications of quantum information theory. Production and detection of the entangled states is not easy. New, effective materials, hopefully with precisely tailored properties, will be synthesized and investigated. The purchase of new devices is planned to enhance the experimental capabilities of Gda?sk University.