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PhD, Masters, Honours, Summer Vacation, and ASPinS Research Projects |
PhD, Masters, Honours, Summer and ASPinS projects are available in the following areas of quantum physics:
1. Macroscopic entanglement and Bell inequality tests with ultra-cold atoms.
The project addresses an open fundamental question in physics of how quantum mechanics applies to systems of mesoscopic and macroscopic sizes. The project will provide theoretical guidance to Australia’s research effort to experimentally demonstrate - for the first time - quantum ‘entanglement’ between large, spatially separated ensembles of ultracold atoms. Apart from being of quintessential importance to validating some of the foundational principles of quantum mechanics in new realms, controlled generation of large-scale entangled systems is important for harnessing them for the development of future quantum devices, as well as for enabling new insights into the unification of quantum theory with gravity. |
 See a related work "Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen correlations via dissociation of a molecular Bose-Einstein condensate" by K. V. Kheruntsyan et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 95, 150405 (2005). |
2. Thermalisation and non-equilibrium dynamics in isolated quantum systems.
Equilibrium thermodynamics is a cornerstone of physics. However, describing how isolated quantum systems recover from a disturbance is surprisingly elusive. The project seeks to uncover the dynamical mechanisms of equilibration in a variety of ultra-cold quantum systems, and to develop a phenomenological theory for understanding the different classes. Not only is quantum equilibration a fundamental question about the laws of nature, the outcomes of the project will provide practical benefits for the development of quantum simulators. These systems are designed to experimentally solve computationally hard problems in materials science, and it is crucial to understand how and on what timescales they reach thermal equilibrium.
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 From "A quantum Newton's craddle", T. Kinoshita et al., Nature 440, 900 (2006). |
- Australian and New Zealand PhD students. We are looking for expressions of interest for highly-motivated domestic students from Australia and NZ*. To be competitive for an APA/UQ domestic scholarship, you will need to have/will get 1st-class honours. For Oz/NZ students we have our Postgrad Info Days for two days in September... otherwise prospective interstate students can visit UQ for a day any other time of the year through the Visit UQ Programme.
- International PhD students. We are looking for expressions of interest for highly-motivated international students*. To be competitive for an IPRS/UQ international scholarship (to help fund tuition fees and living costs), a Masters degree is generally required before application, along with at least one refereed journal publication accepted for publication, and English proficiency IELTS test overall score of at least 6.5. Further informations can be found here.
- Honours students. We have a range of projects that are suitable for honours. You can even trial a research project in the summer between your 3rd/4th years, giving you a head-start on your honours year.
- UQ Summer Vacation research scholars. We invite applicants to apply for a UQ summer vacation research scholarship to stay/visit us at UQ for a summer to get a taste of research in south-east Queensland.
- ASPinS research students. You can get involved in research throughout your undergraduate degree.
*) You should approach your prospective supervisor at least a month ahead of any advertised internal UQ School of Maths/Physics deadlines which may be earlier than the advertised UQ Graduate Office/UQ Research Office deadlines.
I believe that the work between a PhD student and their supervisor is a little bit like the research collaboration between two individuals. (One of them just happens to be more experienced and helps the other with their research project.) As such, an important ingredient of a successful collaboration is getting to know each other in person. So, here is a little bit about me.
First, you might be wondering about how to pronounce my name Karén Kheruntsyan. Well, the first name is really easy: it is pronounced almost the same way as Karen, except the accent is on the letter e, hence the use of the symbol é. Next the surname: try it as KHE-RUN-TSYAN. Here, KH is a single sound -- the one you would make in Loch Ness (know that monster in Scotland?) if you were to say it with a strong Scottish accent. Next, pronounce RUN like in Rooney. Finally, in TSYAN, the two letters TS should again make a single sound, like in tsetse. There, you've got it: Kheruntsyan! And, by the way, the accent is on the last a.
My name comes from Armenia, which was one of the Republics in the former Soviet Union until 1991. Currently Armenia is an independent country, the Republic of Armenia, to be more precise. I graduated from the Yerevan State University and did my PhD during the Soviet Union era. Therefore, my education background comes from the thorough Russian education system, which was the good thing about being part of the Soviet Union. I moved to Australia and settled in Brisbane in 1996, and have been working in the University of Queensland since then.
From 2003 to 2011 I was a Chief Investigator in the ARC Centre of Excellence for Quantum-Atom Optics. Currently I have a few exciting research projects in mind (funded by the ARC Dscovery Project grants and my Future Fellowship award); I cannot really keep all of them to myslef and am looking for new PhD and Honours students. So, why don't you come to my office (room 402, Physics Annexe) for a chat?
Five good reasons for doing your PhD project under my supervision:
- Seeing you publish early in your PhD will be one of my priorities.