The ESRs were trained in skills needed for their project, which are transferable to many career paths after their PhDs. Hard skill training happened hands-on, integrated in research teams. The ESRs first worked with other team members, learning foundational skills (lasers, optics, electronics, numerics). This enabled them to then tackle their own research projects and learn advanced skills (defining goals, strategic planning, analysing and creatively solving problems, etc.). Interlaced with this hands-on training, the ESRs were educated in their topic (ultracold quantum sensing with a focus on optical clocks and industry perspectives of quantum technology) and in soft skills (e.g. time and project management, career planning, presenting, etc.) during MoSaiQC events.
In their own research projects, the ESRs developed and built crucial components of optical clocks, with a focus on transportable clocks and superradiant clocks. Examples of their achievements include: compact atom sources and clock vacuum chambers; stable laser sources, frequency combs and optical circuits; optical cavities to stabilize lasers or to enable superradiance; interrogation zones for high-precision clocks; electronics and software to automate clock operation; and more. Using these components, they made strides towards advanced clocks, such as continuously filling a cavity with atoms, demonstrating pulsed superradiant lasing, or making an optical clock operational. Two ESRs did theoretical work, showing paths towards superradiant clocks by exploring possibilities with numerical simulations, in collaboration with the experimental ESRs.
The ESRs presented their work at many conferences as talks or posters and also already in 14 publications, with more still being written. They also contributed to outreach, such as lab tours for schools, or the general public.
The MoSaiQC project pushed the development of optical clocks significantly forward, educated a cohort of young quantum engineers, and brought quantum science to the awareness of the greater public.
Relevant publications and submitted manuscripts:
Modeling of a continuous superradiant laser on the sub-mHz 1S0 → 3P0 transition in neutral strontium-88, arXiv:2409.06575 (2024).
Continuous cavity-QED with an atomic beam, arXiv:2407.18668 (2024).
External-cavity diode laser at 2.6 µm and its frequency stabilisation with a scanning Fabry-Pérot cavity, doi:10.1364/OE.539358
Absolute frequency measurements on the 5s5p3P0 → 5s6d3D1 transition in strontium, doi:10.1103/PhysRevResearch.6.043106
Open-source electronics ecosystem for optical atomic clocks, doi:10.1088/1361-6501/acc5a1
Collectively enhanced Ramsey readout by cavity sub- to superradiant transition, doi:10.1038/s41467-024-45420-x
Ultimate stability of active optical frequency standards, doi:10.1103/PhysRevA.106.053114
Superradiant lasing in inhomogeneously broadened ensembles with spatially varying coupling, doi:10.12688/openreseurope.13781.2
