Quantum optics

Internship: Probing atoms or molecules at nanometric distances away from a surface by precision spectroscopy

Description: Dispersive forces between neutral but polarisable objects are essential for the cohesion of matter and play a vital role in our understanding of the electromagnetic properties of matter. A paradigm of such forces is the Casimir force between two parallel plates, representing a mactroscopic manifestation of quantum fluctuations. Closely related to the Casimir effect are Casimir-Polder interactions between a dielectric surface and a quantum object (atom or a molecule) that shift atomic and molecular energy levels at nanometric distances away from a surface (typically from a few nanometers to a few microns). Atom-surface interactions have been mainly investigated with ground state alkali atoms focusing on the distance dependence of the atom-surface interaction potential [C. I. Sukenik et al. Phys Rev. Lett. 70, 560, (1993)]. The SAI (Spectroscopie Atomique aux Interfaces) group of the LPL has developped selective reflection and nanocell spectroscopy as two major methods for probing Casimir-Polder interactions with excited state atoms. Using these techniques, we have pioneered atom-surface interaction studies focusing in particular on the influence of thermally excited surface polaritons [J. C de Aquino Carvalho et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 131, 143801, (2023)]. At the moment the group is offering a Masters internship in one of the following new experiments. Read more

Work location:
Laboratoire de Physique des Lasers
Université Sorbonne Paris Nord - CNRS
99 Avenue Jean-Baptiste Clément
93430 Villetaneuse
France

Application procedure (CV, motivation letter): Isabelle Maurin (isabelle.maurin@univ-paris13.fr)