Condensed Matter Physics, Quantum Electronics, Nanophysics, Nanoelectronics

A fellowship for an experimental PhD thesis work is now available in the nanoelectronics group at the University of Basel, Switzerland (www.nanoelectronics.ch). Research in the nanoelectronics group addresses fundamental electronic properties of hybrid quantum systemsthat are realized in the low dimensional materials, such as a carbon nanotube (CNT), a semiconducting nanowire (NW) or graphene and often supplemented with superconducting and ferromagnetic elements.

In the present project we aim to study strain effects in suspended graphene. It has been proposed that certain strain patterns can result in very large pseudo-magnetic fields giving rise a sort of Zeeman splitting acting on the so-called valley degree of freedom. The valley degree is a special feature of graphene and can be seen as a pseudo-spin.

This project is based on our recent work on ultraclean suspended graphene that shows all signatures of ballistic transport. We have demonstrated multi-path quantum interference in graphene cavities (Nature Communications 4, 2342 (2013)) guiding of graphene electrons with the aid of magnetic and electric fields (Nature Communications 6, 6470 (2015) and Nano Letters 2015), in both cases exploiting gate-defined p-n junctions. The goal of the project is sketched in the figure below. Special graphene shapes and gate structures will be used to define an appropriate strain field. In addition, we will try to induce valley polarization by strain pumping using rf fields.

We look for a highly motivated student who is keen to explore fundamental aspects of quantum devices and has solid background in quantum and solid-state physics. You will design and fabricate your own devices using state-of-the-art micro- and nanofabrication technologies. You will measure your devices in cryogenic systems down to millikelvin temperatures. Electric measurements range from DC to up to 6 GHz radio-frequency including modern cryogenic circuitry (for example rf-resonators) and cold amplifiers.
All PhD fellows are expected to work in a team and collaborate with other PhD and postdoctoral fellows, as well as bachelor and master students joining the lab part of their time. Start of the project: Oct. 2015-Jan. 2016, Duration 3-4 years.

Please email a short curriculum vitae including names and contact info of referees, scanned copies of grades and add in particular a statement explaining why you think you match ideally to the project description detailed above. Email directly to: Christian.Schoenenberger@unibas.ch.

This project is funded by the Swiss Nanoscience Institute (see www.nanoscience.ch) under the framework of its SNI PhD program. An alternative way to apply is to register at http://phd.nanoscience.ch.

Review of submitted applications will start end of Sept. 2015.