Available student project - Quantum microscopes for revolutionary interdisciplinary science

Research fields

A quantum microscope

Project details

Quantum microscopes represent a new paradigm of microscopy in which atom-like quantum probes are used to image electromagnetic fields, temperature and pressure with atomic/ nanoscale resolution in ambient and extreme conditions of temperature and pressure. They offer the unprecedented capability to magnetically image the chemical structures of single molecules, to image electrical signals of neurons and to map phase transitions of exotic materials, such as high-temperature superconductors. Quantum microscopes thus have the potential to drive revolutionary scientific advancement across disciplines.

Current topics within this project are:

  1. Design and testing of optimised quantum microscopy protocols
  2. Design and construction of quantum microscopes
  3. Imaging of charges and polarization in nanoelectronics and single molecules
  4. Single molecule vibrational and magnetic resonance imaging/ spectroscopy
  5. Nanoscale bioimaging (eg neuroimaging)
  6. Imaging material phase transitions in extremes of pressure and temperature

These are challenging topics and there are many aspects of the project where students of different levels can become involved. There are opportunities for both theoretical and experimental work and students are free to choose to their desired mix of theory and experiment.

Required background

Below is an indication of the minimum knowledge that is required to contribute to this project:

Project suitability

This research project can be tailored to suit students of the following type(s)

Contact supervisor

Doherty, Marcus profile

Other supervisor(s)

McGuinness, Liam profile