POST-DOC OFFER at FEMTO-ST– Besançon, France

Development of a stabilized laser on a sub-Kelvin Fabry-Perot cavity

Laboratory: FEMTO-ST– Besançon, France

Summary: Ultra-stable lasers have a central role in numerous scientific experiments for high precision measurements: atomic spectroscopy, diffusion of time & frequency signals by optical fiber, detection of gravitational waves and dark matter research. The performances are currently reaching fractional frequency stabilities below 10-16 at 1 second of integration. However, it is still insufficient for many applications including fundamental physics tests and optical atomic clocks. To overcome the current limits, the proposed offer consists in studying as finely as possible the behavior of a Fabry-Pérot cavity at 1 K, which will be used to stabilize a laser in frequency.

Offer details:

  • Prerequisites : PhD in Physics
  • Desired skills: Optical frequency metrology, Gaussian optics in free-space, Analog, digital and radio-frequency electronics, Control theory and locking/feedback techniques, Instrumentation, Cryogenic and ultra-high vacuum, Analysis and interpretation of noise and sources of noises
  • Contract duration : 1 year
  • Salary : approximately €2300 net
  • Procedure : Send CV, cover letter and at least 1 reference letter to jonathan.gillot@femto-st.fr.

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Application Deadlin : March 18, 2024 – FIRST-TF Call for projects 2024

The 2024 FIRST-TF call for project is now open. DUe to the end of the current LabEx funding note the unusual terms of the call:
This year, the funding from FIRST-TF will be exclusively for projects already funded previously by FIRST-TF and involving:
– extending contract of post-doc / young researcher, currently employed by CNRS and previously funded by FIRST-TF, for a maximum of 30k€. A full cost simulation is required, and the extension cannot lead to an end of contract later thanJune 30th 2025.
– equipment or small material for Research/Service/Teaching for an existing project previously funded by FIRST-TF (repair, extension, upgrade,…). New operation of teaching/outreach are, however, accepted. The maximum per project is 15k€ and a quote is required. Billing will need to occur before June 30th 2025.

=> Text of the call

=> Reply form

for requests, contact: ao@first-tf.com

Research engineer with expertise in instrumentation

We are hiring a research engineer with expertise in instrumentation to coordinate the construction and commissioning of the MIGA instrument (Gravitational Antenna based on Atomic Inetrferometry) at the LSBB site.
This fixed-term contract will start as soon as possible at the LSBB Laboratory in Rustrel, Vaucluse, in the Parc Naturel Régional du Luberon in Provence (France), for a renewable period of 12 months.

Post-doctorate position : Hydrogen deceleration for its first observation of the Gravitational Quantum States

This project aims to perform the first observation of Gravitational Quantum States on
hydrogens in flight. This experiment is part of the international collaboration GRASIAN: GRAvity Spectroscopy and Interferometry with ultra-cold Atoms and Neutrons (
https://grasian.eu).

Full time postdoctorate, mainly experimental position. 12 months contract (possibility of extension).

Start date: February 2024 January 2025.

Location: Laboratoire Kastler Brossel, Sorbonne Université, CNRS, ENS, Collège de France. 4 place Jussieu, 75005 Paris

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Assistant professor position, Sorbonne Université, SYRTE laboratory, Paris (section 30).

The Systèmes de Référence Temps-Espace (SYRTE) laboratory carries out research in the field of fundamental astronomy, time and frequency metrology and sensor, and history of astronomy. A pioneering institution in their deveopment, it studies different types of cold-atom-based quantum sensors: microwave clocks, optical clocks and inertial sensors (gyrometers, gravimeters, gradiometers, chip-scale interformeters). These sensors have demonstrated a remarkable efficiency for realizing measurement instruments of unprecedented performances, for innovative applications in different disciplinary fields: geophysics, fundamental metrology, tests of fundamental laws of physics, positionning and navigation. In order to overcome sensitivity limits of these sensors, or improve their compactnes to turn them into transportable devices, it is important to utilize ressources offered by quantum mechanics, which have been, so far, little exploited for space-time measurement. These protocols include, as exemples, optimal quantum control, non-demolition measurement and preparation of squeezed states for measurement beyond the standard quantum limit, or even entanglement between different sensors. The SYRTE laboratory wants to hire an Assistant Professor in  quantum physics to work in the specific domain of quantum protocoles applied to cold atoms sensors, in order to improve their limits in terms of sensitivity, and strengthen its position in ahighly competitive domain at the international scale.

Candidates (M/F) may contact the relevant group leaders::

– Optical Frequancy Metrology: contact Jérôme Lodewyck (jerome.lodewyck@obspm.fr)

– Atomic Interferometry and inertial sensors: contact Franck Pereira Dos Santos (Franck.Pereira@obspm.fr)

– Microwave references and timescales: contact Stéphane Guérandel (stephane.guerandel@obspm.fr)

or the director of the SYRTE laboratory: Arnaud Landragin (arnaud.landragin@obspm.fr)

Series of 3 seminars on CSOs at FEMTO-ST (February 1-8-15, 2024)

FEMTO-ST is pleased to organize a series of 3 seminars on February 1, 8 and 15, 2024 from 2:00 pm to 3:30 pm, entitled:

Cryogenic Sapphire Oscillator: 30 years of Research at the FEMTO-ST Institute

by Vincent Giordano, CNRS Research Director at the FEMTO-ST Institute.

This series of lectures can be attended in the Jules Hagg lecture hall at Supmicrotech-ENSMM (Besançon, France) or online at MS TEAMS.

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Workshop on Standardization of Galileo Timing Receivers (Prague, February 2, 2024, 10:00-13:00 CET)

The primary objective of the workshop is to present the ongoing standardisation activities for timing receivers.

The availability of accurate and secure timing information is crucial for a range of strategic sectors. This is especially the case for critical infrastructures, like telecommunication networks, energy distribution grids, financial markets. All of these will benefit from the future Galileo Timing Service.

In a joint effort, EUSPA and the European Commission will host  a workshop dedicated present the ongoing standardisation activities for timing receivers, aimed at the publication of the first ever Standard in 2024, a key component of the upcoming Galileo Timing Service. The workshop will provide a great opportunity for discussing with Stakeholders on the benefits for Timing and Synchronisation (T&S) applications, and on the user needs of the Timing community.

The workshop will be hybrid, taking place online and at EUSPA HQ.

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UFFC-JS 2024 (Taipei, September 22-26, 2024)

The 2024 IEEE Ultrasonics, Ferroelectrics, and Frequency Control Joint Symposium will take place September 22 – 26, 2024 at the Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center in Taipei, Taiwan. This joint conference celebrates the 70th anniversary of the IEEE UFFC Society.

The following conferences will be involved:

  • International Ultrasonics Symposium (IUS)
  • International Symposium on Applications of Ferroelectrics (ISAF)
  • International Frequency Control Symposium (IFCS)
  • Piezoresponse Force Microscopy Workshop (PFM)

=> Plus de détails.

=> Call for paper.