Postdoctoral Appointee – Superconducting Single-Photon Devices for Quantum Information Science
About The Position
Argonne National Laboratory invites applications for a postdoctoral research position in experimental physics and superconducting device development, focused on advancing multipixel single-photon camera technology and multiplexed readout systems for quantum information science applications. In this role, you will join a multidisciplinary team spanning several Argonne divisions and contribute to the design, fabrication, and characterization of superconducting devices based on high kinetic inductance materials. This position offers a unique opportunity to help build a new research capability with potential impact across quantum networking, communications, and computing.
Requirements
- Recent or soon-to-be-completed PhD (within the last 0-5 years) in field of physics, electrical engineering, materials science, or a related field
- Demonstrated experience with superconducting devices or related quantum or low-temperature technologies, particularly in device design, fabrication, and/or measurement
- Proficiency in low-noise cryogenic measurement techniques spanning millikelvin to few-kelvin temperatures
- Ability to model Argonne’s core values of impact, safety, respect, integrity, and teamwork
Nice To Haves
- Experience with superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors (SNSPDs), transition-edge sensors (TESs), or kinetic inductance detectors (KIDs)
- Experience with cleanroom microfabrication processes, including thin-film deposition (e.g., magnetron sputtering), electron-beam or optical lithography, and dry/wet etching
- Familiarity with microwave resonator design, characterization, and RF/microwave measurement techniques
- Experience with electromagnetic simulation tools such as Sonnet, Ansys HFSS, Lumerical, or similar platforms
- Experience with data acquisition, instrument control, and data analysis in Python or similar languages
- Knowledge of quantum optics measurements such as photon correlation functions or photon-number-resolved detection
- Familiarity with aspects of condensed matter and BCS superconductivity theory applicable to high kinetic inductance superconducting materials
Responsibilities
- Design and fabricate superconducting devices that leverage the nonlinear kinetic inductance of thin superconducting films, including microwave resonators for frequency-domain multiplexed readout of single-photon detectors using kinetic inductance current sensors
- Develop and characterize superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors (SNSPDs) using high kinetic inductance materials such as NbN, TiN, and NbTiN, with the goal of achieving high detection efficiency from visible to telecom wavelengths
- Implement and evaluate scalable readout architectures for nanowire arrays, including multiplexing approaches based on superconducting cryogenic switches such as hTron and fTron
- Perform low-noise cryogenic measurements to assess device performance, including timing jitter, dark count rate, detection efficiency, and resonator quality factors
- Rapidly refine fabrication processes and readout circuit designs based on device characterization results and electromagnetic simulations
- Contribute to the development of integrated instrument systems for the characterization of solid-state single-photon emitters, including photon correlation and spectroscopy measurements
Benefits
- comprehensive benefits are part of the total rewards package
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Entry Level
Education Level
Ph.D. or professional degree
