Post-doctorate on an ytterbium optical lattice clock (M/F)
Postdoc @French National Centre for Scientific Research posted 21 hours agoJob Description
General information
Job title: Postdoctoral position on an ytterbium optical lattice clock (M/F)
Reference: UMR8255-RODLET-001
Number of positions: 1
Work location: PARIS 14
Publication date: Friday, June 6, 2025
Type of contract: Researcher on fixed-term contract
Contract duration: 18 months
Expected hiring date: September 1, 2025
Workload: Full
Remuneration: between €3,081 and €4,756 gross monthly depending on experience
Desired level of studies: Doctorate
Desired experience: Indifferent
CN section(s): 01 – Interactions, particles, nuclei from the laboratory to the cosmos
Missions
The M/F candidate will participate in the development of the core of the transportable optical atomic clock in Ytterbium at the LTE (Time-Space Laboratory), Paris Observatory. This clock will be attached to the REFIMEVE network (a network of fiber optic links disseminating an ultrastable carrier at 1542 nm), in order to allow remote frequency comparisons with the ~12 European stationary optical clocks. Thanks to the sensitivity of atomic clocks to the local gravitational potential, these measurements will allow, among other things, mapping of the Earth’s potential with unprecedented resolution.
Activities
The candidate will be in charge of configuring the existing vacuum system to optimize a combination of optical molasses (399 nm), 2D/3D magneto-optical traps (399 nm/556 nm) and optical grating (759 nm) to trap neutral ytterbium atoms at very high rates. The atom trapping in this ‘magic’ optical grating will have to be elaborated to allow reaching the Lamb-Dicke regime. He/she will elaborate a time sequence to capture more than 1e4 atoms in less than 100 ms, while reaching longitudinal temperatures of the order of 1 µK. Finally, he/she will supervise the programming aspects to manage this sequence reliably and agilely remotely.
SKILLS
The candidate must hold a PhD in experimental atomic physics. A strong interest in experimental work is required; skills in ultrahigh vacuum systems, continuous lasers, electronics, and Python programming are essential. Knowledge of ultrastable Fabry-Perot cavities is an asset.
Work context
The LTE ytterbium team (Paris, Paris Observatory) is composed of 6 people. The postdoctoral fellow sought must have good supervisory experience, particularly in leading the projects of the team’s doctoral students. The candidate will be placed under the responsibility of the ytterbium project manager.
This new clock will benefit from the expertise accumulated during the development of the laboratory’s 3 optical clocks (based on strontium and mercury). A good team spirit, as well as a good knowledge of English, are therefore absolutely necessary.
The project is funded by the ANR (French National Agency for Research), by the CNES (French National Center for Space Studies) and by the Simone and Cino Del Duca Foundation.*
The position is located in a sector covered by the protection of scientific and technical potential (PPST), and therefore requires, in accordance with the regulations, that your arrival be authorized by the competent authority of the MESR.
The position is located in a sector covered by the protection of scientific and technical potential (PPST), and therefore requires, in accordance with regulations, that your arrival be authorized by the competent authority of the MESR.
