QO_Post | EQOP

Advertisement for experimental Postdoc position published!

Mon, 15 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000

We seek a motivated postdoctoral researcher to implement an experimental research programme on supersolids and quantum droplets in a laser-driven Bose-Einstein condensate of ultracold caesium atoms via light-mediated interactions introduced by feedback from a retroreflecting mirror.

The project aims to implement a unique platform for exploring emergent behaviour and symmetry-breaking in self-organised supersolids with intriguing connections to the dynamics of long-range coupled systems and time crystals. It builds on an existing experimental platform for quantum-degenerate ensembles of caesium atoms.

The successful applicant will be based in the Ultracold Matter and Quantum Technology (UMQT) at the Department of Physics of the University of Strathclyde. The role involves close collaboration with Dr Peter Kirton and Dr Gordon Robb and a postdoctoral researcher from the Computational Nonlinear and Quantum Optics Group (CNQO) funded by the same EPSRC project Supersolids and quantum droplets via light mediated interactions.

Candidates should hold a PhD or an equivalent degree in experimental physics. Strong technical knowledge of atomic quantum gases and related optical setups is essential. Applications are welcome from candidates who are close to completing their PhD or whose award is pending.

Please see full ad here. Please direct informal enquiries to Dr Elmar Haller, elmar.haller@strath.ac.uk or Prof Thorsten Ackemann, thorsten.ackemann@strath.ac.uk.

Advertisement for theoretical Postdoc position published!

Wed, 10 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000

We are recruiting a Research Associate in Theoretical Physics to work with Drs Kirton and Robb on the theory of the formation of supersolids and droplet structures via light mediated interactions in a BEC.

This work will develop a unique platform for exploring emergent behaviour and symmetry-breaking in self-organised supersolids with intriguing connections to the dynamics of long-range coupled systems and time crystals. Please see full ad here. Please direct informal enquiries to Peter Kirton peter.kirton@strath.ac.uk.

Recruiting Postdocs!

Tue, 18 Nov 2025 00:00:00 +0000

For the starting EPSRC funded project Supersolids and quantum droplets via light mediated interactions we are looking for two motivated postdoctoral researchers with a start date from February 2026.

Informal enquiries to Thorsten Ackemann thorsten.ackemann@strath.ac.uk or Elmar Haller Elmar Haller elmar.haller@strath.ac.uk for the experimental position, and Peter Kirton peter.kirton@strath.ac.uk or Gordon Robb g.r.m.robb@strath.ac.uk for the theoretical position.

Supersolids and quantum droplets via light mediated interactions.

Tue, 18 Nov 2025 00:00:00 +0000

A colloboration between the Ultracold Matter and Quantum Technology (T. Ackemann, E. Haller) and Computional Nonlonerar and Quantum Optics Group (G. Robb, P. Kirton) obtained funding from EPSRC for the investigation of Supersolids and quantum droplets via light mediated interactions.

The project aims to realize supersolid and droplet phases of matter in a laser-driven Bose-Einstein condensate of ultracold Cs atoms via light-mediated interactions introduced by feed-back from a retroreflecting mirror. Diffractive dephasing of the retroreflected light induces the nontrivial spatial correlations leading to supersolidity. This work will develop a unique platform for exploring emergent behaviour and symmetry-breaking in self-organised supersolids with intriguing connections to the dynamics of long-range coupled systems and time crystals. Watch this space!

Self-organized length scales beyond the linear Talbot effect.

Thu, 05 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0000

In a collaboration with the INPHYNI in Nice and the TU Vienna which just appeared in Physical Review A we are looking now at the interplay of diffraction within the atomic cloud and diffraction in vacuum. It turns out that for most situations it is sufficient to look at the linear Talbot effect but things get more involved, if one puts the mirror “into the cloud”. If you are curious, how to do this and what the resulting length scales are, please look at Phys. Rev. A 111, 063506.

Spontaneously Sliding Multipole Spin Density Waves in Cold Atoms.

Fri, 05 Apr 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Spontaneously Sliding Multipole Spin Density Waves in Cold Atoms reported in Physical Review Letters

Generating Multiparticle Entangled States by Self-Organization.

Wed, 18 Oct 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Generating Multiparticle Entangled States by Self-Organization of Driven Ultracold Atoms reported in Physical Review Letters

Review: Self-Organization in Cold Atoms Mediated by Diffractive Coupling.

Wed, 23 Jun 2021 00:00:00 +0000

Review on self-organization with single-mirror feedback “Self-Organization in Cold Atoms Mediated by Diffractive Coupling” in atoms

MSCA-ETN ColOpt funded.

Sun, 01 Jan 2017 00:00:00 +0000

Thorsten Ackemann coordinates MSCA-European Training Network ColOpt (Collective Effects and Optomechanics in Ultra-cold Matter)

Observation of self-organized hexagons via optomechanically nonlinearities.

Sun, 23 Mar 2014 00:00:00 +0000

Observation of self-organized hexagons via optomechanically nonlinearities reported in Nature Photonics, see News Release and coverage in Optics & Photonics News.