Supervisor

Professor Jonathan Prance

Description

The ability to cool materials to millikelvin temperatures has been the foundation of many breakthroughs in condensed matter physics. At this frontier, quantum behaviour can be studied by making devices smaller and colder, increasing coherence across the system. The goal of this project is to apply a new technique – on-chip demagnetisation refrigeration – to reach temperatures below 1 millikelvin in electronic devices and materials. This will open a new temperature range for the development of quantum technologies.

In the sub-millikelvin regime, it becomes increasingly difficult to measure and define the temperature of a material or device. The thermal coupling between various sub-systems can be extremely small; for example, the electrons in the metal wires contacting a chip can be at a different temperature to the electrons in the chip, the phonons in the chip, and the apparatus that you are using to cool it. This situation calls for a variety of thermometry techniques, each suited to measuring the temperature of a different physical system. The thermometers must also have extremely low heat dissipation and excellent isolation from the room temperature environment. This project will also include the development of new and existing thermometry techniques that are suitable for sub-millikelvin temperatures.

Devices will be produced in the Lancaster Quantum Technology Centre cleanroom, and by our collaborators. Experiments will be conducted using the cutting-edge facilities of the Ultralow Temperature Physics group and IsoLab at Lancaster University.

Candidates would benefit from an interest in and knowledge of some of these areas:

• electrical measurements of quantum devices, e.g. semiconductor quantum dots, superconducting qubits, 2D-material-based devices,
• cryogenic techniques,
• nanofabrication,
• data acquisition and measurement automation.

Related publications:

Ridgard et al., Journal of Applied Physics 137, 245901 (2025)

Autti et al., Physical Review Letters 131, 077001 (2023)

Samani et al., Physical Review Research 4, 033225 (2022)

Chawner et al., Physical Review Applied 15, 034044 (2021)

Jones et al., Journal of Low Temperature Physics 201, p772 (2020)

Funding is available on a competitive basis. To be considered for a funded studentship, please submit your application by 31 January 2026.

Supervisor

Professor Yuri Pashkin

Description

We are seeking PhD students to study electron transport in nanoscale electronic devices based on two-dimensional transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs). TMDCs exhibit a unique combination of atomic-scale thickness, direct bandgap, strong spin–orbit coupling and favourable electronic and mechanical properties, which make them interesting for fundamental studies and for applications in high-end electronics, spintronics, etc. Because of its robustness, MoS2 is the most studied material in this family which holds the promise of delivering new rich physics and applications in low-power electronics.

The project will focus on charge transport measurements in nanoscale MoS2-based field-effect transistors and devices with the aim to understand

The work is experimental and involves device characterisation at mK temperatures in a dilution refrigerator. The project will be undertaken in close collaboration with Tyndall National Institute – Cork, the research centre with strong expertise in nanofabrication, including fabrication of TMDC-based devices.

You are expected to have a strong interest and preferably knowledge in the field of

• nanoelectronic devices
• quantum physics
• low-noise measurements
• microwave engineering
• automation of the experiment
• data acquisition using Python or MatLab
• cryogenic techniques

The rapid progress of the field of TMDCs is reflected in the large number of scientists working on these materials and in the large number of publications. However, the field is in many ways still in its infancy stage, which promise many more exciting discoveries and real-world applications.

Supervisor

Professor Yuri Pashkin

Description

We are seeking PhD students to develop and characterise quantum electronic devices for the dark matter search experiments. This project will be part of the joint interdisciplinary effort undertaken by academics from several UK universities and researchers from the National Physical Laboratory aimed at running and improving the haloscope launched at the University of Sheffield. The haloscope was built in Phase 1 of the National Programme “Quantum Technologies for Fundamental Physics” supported by STFC, and is the only UK facility of this type. The focus will be on superconducting parametric amplifiers operating at mK temperatures as the first amplification stage in the detection chain of the haloscope, but the work may include characterisation of high-quality factor cavities and other microwave components as part of the measurement setup.

The work is experimental and involves device characterisation at mK temperatures in a dilution refrigerator. The project will be undertaken in the Lancaster Quantum Technology Centre in close collaboration with the members of the consortium.

You are expected to have a strong interest and preferably knowledge in the field of

• superconducting devices;
• quantum physics;
• low-noise measurements;
• microwave engineering;
• automation of the experiment, data acquisition and analysis using Python or MatLab;
• cryogenic techniques.

As the efforts for the dark matter search in the past decade have been intensified worldwide, the whole field is experiencing rapid growth which is reflected in the growing number of scientists working in this field as well as increasing number of publications. The sensing technologies developed within this project may lead to exciting discoveries and applications in other sectors.

Supervisor

Dr Dmitry Zmeev

Description

Recently, we have developed a new type of levitating probes: superconducting spheres whose motion can be controlled with high precision.

These probes open up several pathways for exploring a variety of fundamental and applied problems in physics.

Firstly, the exceptional coherence time of the levitated oscillators, greater than 24 hours, combined with an ultracold sub-millikelvin environment creates a unique platform for probing the boundary between quantum and classical physics. This allows us to experimentally address one of the most profound questions in modern physics: “How does the quantum description of reality transition into the classical world?”

Secondly, the probes can be controllably moved over large distances and at high velocities, enabling the study of dynamic processes in quantum fluids. This capability opens new avenues for investigating the formation and evolution of topological defects, such as quantum vortices, and the emergence of quantum turbulence in both 2D and 3D fermionic and bosonic superfluids. These phenomena are central to understanding superfluidity and non-equilibrium quantum systems.

Thirdly, a probe of an arbitrary shape moving in a low-viscosity fluid at a high speed presents an opportunity to study highly turbulent flows relevant to airplanes and cars on a moderate scale and much-reduced costs compared to wind tunnels. This capability also presents an opportunity to answer the question “Is flight possible in a superfluid?”.

Scientific Environment

We perform experiments on superfluids and other materials with applications in areas such as nanoelectronics, cosmology and turbulence.

The group has a strong international reputation for performing state-of-the-art experiments at the lowest achievable temperatures. Our custom-made dilution refrigerators, built in-house, achieve world-record low temperatures.

We are well known for providing these sub-millikelvin low temperature environments with advanced in-house cryogenic engineering, and for our accompanying expertise in ultra-sensitive measurement techniques and the development of specialised instrumentation.

Creating, controlling and exploiting the ultra-low temperature environment has proven crucial for the research and development of quantum-enhanced devices. Our platform technology provides the extreme cold and isolation necessary to probe the subtle quantum behaviours that are otherwise hidden by thermal fluctuations or external disturbance.

We have a broad research portfolio in low temperature physics and specialise in quantum fluids and solids research.

How to apply

We will consider applications from candidates with an excellent academic record in Physics, Engineering, or a closely related subject at the MSc. level or equivalent.

This studentship is open until filled. Early application is strongly encouraged. PhD provisional start date is October 2026. Please contact D Zmeev to discuss the opportunities