Description

This fellowship opportunity at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) supports postdoctoral research in quantum information and quantum optics. The research focuses on laser-cooled neutral atomic gases trapped in optical lattices, which serve as platforms for studying quantum logic operations—the fundamental building blocks of quantum computing—and many-body condensed matter physics simulations.

Key research areas include:

• Implementation of quantum logic gates using laser-cooled and Bose-condensed atoms.
• Use of highly excited Rydberg atoms to enable long-range interactions between atom-photon hybrids (polaritons) for novel quantum gate operations.
• Conversion of quantum bits stored in atoms to photons, facilitating transportable quantum information and the development of quantum information networks.
• Generation of squeezed and entangled light beams via four-wave mixing in warm atomic vapor, including multi-spatial-mode beams for quantum imaging.
• Creation of non-classical light in warm and cold atom systems for quantum metrology.
• Studies of slow and fast light phenomena, quantum optical amplifiers, and quantum memories.

The research is conducted within the Physical Measurement Laboratory, Quantum Measurement Division, and involves collaboration with the Joint Quantum Institute, NIST, the University of Maryland, and international partners.

Representative publications from the group highlight advances in spin-orbit-coupled Bose-Hubbard models, superexchange-mediated magnetization dynamics, and quantum mutual information propagation through fast-light media.