PhD Studentship: Threading Quantum States of Light Through Complex Scattering Media (Fully Funded)

[Full UK or International tuition fees and an annual tax-free stipend of at least £20,780 per year (UKRI minimum stipend) for 3.5 years. Includes travel resources for research visits and conference attendance.] This fully-funded PhD studentship at the University of Exeter offers an exciting opportunity to join the Structured Light Lab in the Department of Physics and Astronomy. The project, 'Threading quantum states of light through complex scattering media,' aims to develop a novel experimental platform for controlling quantum states of light as they traverse complex scattering environments. This research is at the forefront of quantum photonics, with potential applications in quantum networking, computing, and sensing. Quantum technologies leverage the unique properties of quantum physics to achieve functionalities beyond classical physics. A major challenge in the field is the fragility of quantum states, which are easily disrupted by environmental interactions. This project focuses on encoding quantum information into single photons, particularly their spatial states, and manipulating high-dimensional entangled states using wavefront shaping technologies. Building on the lab's expertise in controlling classical light through scattering media, the research will extend these methods to guide quantum states through dynamically changing complex media. Potential applications include developing quantum communication protocols for free-space optical links, compensating for scattering in multimode fibres and turbulent atmospheres, and realizing logic gates for quantum computation. The position is based in the Structured Light Lab, led by Prof. David Phillips, and supported by active grants from the European Research Council and the UK Engineering and Physical Science Research Council. The lab provides state-of-the-art laser facilities and a dynamic research environment. The successful candidate will gain expertise in experimental optics, quantum photonics, and programming (e.g., python). The project is co-supervised by Prof. Simon Horsley (quantum theory) and Dr Callum Jones (quantum optics platforms). The studentship includes resources for travel to research visits and leading international conferences. Applicants should have enthusiasm for experimental physics and programming, with a background in Physics, Optics, Electronic Engineering, Computer Science, Natural Sciences, Quantum technologies, or any science-related discipline. The studentship covers UK or International tuition fees and provides an annual tax-free stipend of at least £20,780 for 3.5 years. The start date is October 2026 (or earlier or soon thereafter), and the award is based on merit. For informal enquiries, contact Prof. David Phillips at [email protected]. Apply online via the University of Exeter funding award page before the deadline of 31 January 2025.