Are you an ambitious young scientist who wants to do a Post-Doc on the forefront of far infrared detector technology for space, and work on the follow-up observatory of the James Webb Space Telescope?
Microwave Kinetic Inductance Detectors (MKIDs) are superconducting pair breaking detectors which are so sensitive that they are now adopted as the baseline detector for future space-based observatories with a sensitivity only limited by the universe background. The MKIDs developed in our group are the world’s most sensitive. As a direct result we collaborate with NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory to develop detectors for the next generation space telescope: This will be a telescope with cryogenically cooled optics targeting the unexplored wavelength range between 24 μm and 200 μm. The projected launch date will be around 2033. The coming 2-3 years are critical in reaching the required detector maturity to allow for a favourable selection.
Your goal will be to further the understanding of the device physics and to increase the detector yield in large arrays with unprecedented sensitivity. It is essential to understand how the exact details of the device fabrication impacts the detector performance. The fabrication will be done by dedicated personnel, your role will be focusing on device characterization and data analysis in our lab in Leiden.
We are looking for a candidate with a Ph.D. in Applied Physics, Electrical Engineering or a related field, with a strong interest in astronomical instrumentation. Experience with superconducting resonators, superconducting Qubits or superconducting detectors is considered an advantage.