Ultra-high common-mode noise rejecting ELF/ULF gradiometer

Key facts

• Opens: Friday 1 November 2024
• Deadline: Friday 7 February 2025
• Number of places: 1
• Duration: 4 years
• Funding: Equipment costs, Home fee, International fee, Stipend, Travel costs

Eligibility

All applicants must have or expect to obtain a first-class or second-class honours degree, or equivalent, in a relevant subject OR have or expect to obtain a Masters degree.

Project Details

Active radio-frequency imaging in the super-low and ultra-low frequency (SLF/ULF) bands makes complex demands of the transceiver system used. Conventional antennae trade size for sensitivity at low frequencies, which is incompatible with high-resolution imaging. Penetrative imaging at these frequencies is an important enabling technique for nuclear threat reduction, treaty monitoring and border security.

Quantum magnetic sensors break the size-weight-sensitivity constraint for magnetic detection in the SLF/ULF bands, as the magnetic signal is transduced by resonant detection on polarised alkali ground state Zeeman transitions, generating magneto-optical rotation. Signal generation by this process is free of the inverse-frequency scaling which degrades inductive measurement at low frequencies.

To realise these benefits in penetrative imaging, it is essential to separate with very high discrimination (part-per-million or better) the excitation field from the signal response. Magnetic gradiometry, utilising alkali spin maser techniques in a unique microfabricated caesium cell, is under development at the University of Strathclyde. The technique under development targets very high common-mode noise rejection (CMNR) by cancellation of common-mode systematics at source, ensuring the bandwidth, uniformity and linearity required for high CMNR.

By developing this device for penetrative SLF/ULF imaging, the requirements of AWE’s applications will be embedded from the outset, maximising impact in this important set of end uses. It is also important to note the value of high CMNR, high-sensitivity magnetometry in a range of healthcare and biomedical applications.

Further information

EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Applied Quantum Technologies

Funding details

The funding provided for these fully funded PhDs will include four years of both tuition fees and monthly stipend payments.

Fully funded studentships are available at the UK home rate and international rate.

Home students

To be eligible for a fully funded UK home studentship you must:

• be a UK national or UK/EU dual national or non-UK national with settled status / pre-settled status / indefinite leave to remain / indefinite leave to enter / discretionary leave / EU migrant worker in the UK or non-UK national with a claim for asylum or the family member of such a person, and
• have ordinary residence in the UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man or British Overseas Territory, at the Point of Application, and
• have three years residency in the UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man, British Overseas Territory or EEA before the relevant date of application unless residency outside of the UK/EEA has been of a temporary nature only and of a period less than six years.

International Students

There are a limited number of international studentships for exceptional candidates who do not meet the UK home status mentioned above.

Candidates should check if they require an ATAS certificate; eligible nationalities are listed on GOV.UK (UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office).

International candidates whose first language is not English must demonstrate their proficiency in the English language with IELTS certification or equivalent.

Information on visa requirements .

While there is no funding in place for opportunities marked "unfunded", there are lots of different options to help you fund postgraduate research. Visit funding your postgraduate research for links to government grants, research councils funding and more, that could be available.

Dr Stuart Ingleby

Chancellor'S Fellow - Senior Lecturer Physics

Primary Supervisor: Dr Stuart Ingleby

Additional Supervisor: Prof Paul Griffin, AWE

Apply

Applications should be submitted via the AQT website in the first instance.

Number of places: 1

To read how we process personal data, applicants can review our 'Privacy Notice for Student Applicants and Potential Applicants' on our Privacy notices' web page .

Contact us

stuart.ingleby@strath.ac.uk

Research areas