We are seeking a talented experimental physicist with experimental experience in quantum photonics to set up an entangled photon source and create an entanglement-based quantum random number generator (QRNG).

The successful candidate will be employed by the University of York and based at the National Physical Laboratory (NPL) in Teddington, London within its experimental quantum photonics team.

Common protocols used by QRNGs rely on a detailed model of the device and whether that model is sufficient and accurate can affect the device’s security. For device-independent (DI) QRNGs the aim is that the device confirms that it is working sufficiently well during the protocol itself. This circumvents the need for detailed device models, allowing increased confidence in the output randomness. However, there is an associated cost in that building devices able to run such a protocol requires shared entanglement which is a fragile resource.

The position will involve studying the best practical ways to perform device-independent protocols, reporting on the optimal ways to generate and share entanglement and violate Bell inequalities with minimal loopholes, develop and set-up the chosen source (or sources), optimize the non-locality and then set-up and run a DI-QRNG protocol.

The theoretical team of Roger Colbeck at York is working to develop practical DI-QRNG protocols. The successful candidate will need to interact with the team at York, and will be supported by co-aligned work pursued by the team at NPL which is led by Christopher Chunnilall.

This is a full-time position with a fixed term. The start date is 1st September 2023 or as soon as possible thereafter, and the end date is 30 November 2024 (which could be extended if further funding is obtained).

This is a readvertisement. Previously unsuccessful applicants should not reapply.

Informal inquiries can be made to Christopher Chunnilall (christopher.chunnilall@npl.co.uk) or Roger Colbeck (roger.colbeck@york.ac.uk)

To find out more about this position and apply, visit the relevant  University of York HR listing. Deadline: 23/07/23