Research Description For Physicists
Current Research
For a general description of my current research, please visit the TRICE QFT page.
Postdoctoral Research
The focus of my postdoctoral research is the realization of an integrated quantum hybrid system for quantum computation and quantum information processing. This new scheme will be based on the integration of superconducting qubits (solid state device) for fast and scalable computational tasks and of trapped ions (atom-optical device) for storge and processing of information with long coherence times. In this project the development of a scalable technology will be pursued by first advancing two solid-state and atom-optical devices, namely a) arrays of superconducting qubits will be coupled to microwave resonators where all-optical quantum computing will be explored for the first time in the microwave regime and b) highly controlled ion trap systems will be built. Finally these two goals will be combined to yield a scalable basis for universal quantum computation and quantum information processing. Currently the design, simulation and microfabrication of the ion trap structures are being pursued. Development and characterization of the experimental set up will follow shortly thereafter.
Doctoral Research
An experimental set up was developed to precisely measure atomic parity violation in a single trapped radium ion and to extract the Weinberg angle in the Standard Model of particle physics at the lowest possible momentum transfer. A series of short-lived radium isotopes 209-214Ra with nuclear spins 0, 1/2, and 5/2 was produced in fusion evaporation reactions using inverse kinematics. These isotopes were stopped and thermalized to singly charged ions in a Thermal Ionizer, mass separated in a Wien Filter, cooled and stored in a gas filled Radio Frequency Quadrupole (RFQ) trap. Atomic spectroscopic information such as hyperfine structure, isotope shift, and lifetime from optical precision measurements provide necessary experimental input for improving the precision of atomic structure calculation below the percent level of accuracy. This is indispensable for extracting the Weinberg angle. Hyperfine structure intervals of the metastable 6d2D3/2 states and the isotope shifts of the 6d2D3/2 - 7p2P1/2 and 6d2D3/2 - 7p2P3/2 transitions were determined. A lower experimental limit for the lifetime of the metastable 6d2D5/2 state was established. The experimental pursuits to perform trapping and laser cooling of a single radium ion are in progress towards the precision measurement of atomic parity violation.
Masters Research
Magnetic garnet materials in the form of single and multi layered thin films are excellent candidates for use in photonics research and applications.The project aimed for the preparation and characterization of partially and completely Bismuth substituted Yttrium Iron Garnet (BiYIG and BIG) thin films. Films were prepared by RF magnetron sputtering. We investigated the crystallinity, morphology, roughness, composition, thickness, transmittance, refractive index and magneto-optical Faraday rotation (FR). Similar investigations were also carried out for Scandium substituted Gadolinium Gallium Garnet (GSGG) thin films. Periodical BIG-BiYIG multi-layer deposition was initiated with a double layer and was characterized.
