Preparation and control of neutral atoms for quantum applications
PhD School at the Faculty of SCIENCE at University of Copenhagen
This is a specialised course where 50% of the seats are reserved for PhD students enrolled at the Faculty of SCIENCE at UCPH and 50% of the seats are reserved for PhD students at other faculties and universities. Seats will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis and according to the applicable rules.
Anyone can apply for the course, but if you are not a PhD student, you will be placed on the waiting list until enrollment deadline. After the enrollment deadline, available seats will be allocated to applicants on the waiting list.
Aim and Content
This course provides an introduction to the topic of state control in atomic quantum systems. We will focus on operation and interaction protocols with atomic systems that require high fidelity and coherence times. In addition to the formal introduction to these subjects, an industry point of view will also be presented to emphasize current technical capabilities and limitations. The course will give you an insight into state-of-the-art operation techniques related to cold atom systems with controllable interaction used for clocks, computations and the exploration of fundamental physics.
The days of the course will be divided into a morning and an afternoon session. During the morning session, the course will host academically oriented lectures by international speakers. During the afternoon sessions, there will be an industry viewpoint on technological development and future challenges. Following that, students will have a chance to present their own work and to discuss their research challenges between themselves and with the experts.
The plan of the activities is (order may change):
• Day 1: Morning:
o Atomic control in optical clocks
o Student presentations
• Day 1: Afternoon:
o Industry viewpoint – laser noise engineering
o Student presentations
• Day 2: Morning:
o State control in quantum computers
o Student presentations
• Day 2: Afternoon:
o Industry viewpoint – laser power engineering
o Student presentations
• Day 2: Evening: Social event
• Day 3: Morning:
o State measurement in atomic quantum systems
o Student presentations
• Day 3: Afternoon:
o Industry viewpoint – frequency control engineering
o Student presentations
Learning outcomes
Intended learning outcome for the students who complete the course:
Knowledge:
• Demonstrate a good understanding of the principles behind interrogation of long coherence-time systems.
• Explain the core experimental techniques used for controlling external and internal degrees of freedom of atoms.
• Identify state-of-the-art methods in high-fidelity and fast characterization of atomic systems
Skills:
• Analyze optimal approaches to state preparation for a range of quantum applications
• Be able to translate scientific parameters into supply-chain requirements
• Apply best practices in designing atom control hardware.
Competences:
• Critically evaluate experimental approaches in the context of controlling cold atoms.
• Identify supply chain requirements in the broader innovation ecosystem and assess the feasibility of quantum technology applications in commercial or academic contexts.
• Demonstrate awareness of differences and commonalities in the optimization paths across several quantum applications
Target Group
PhD students from e.g., physics, engineering and data science working in the field of quantum technologies
Recommended Academic Qualifications
A background in atomic physics and quantum technology
Research Area
Quantum Physics, Quantum Technologies, Atomic Physics, Laser Physics
Teaching and Learning Methods
• Self-study before and during the course.
• Lectures.
• Student presentation
Type of Assessment
Course participation and individual presentations
Literature
Selected research papers.
Course coordinator
Stefan Alaric Schäffer (Assistant Professor)
Jörg Helge Müller (Associate Professor)
Guest Lecturers
All course lectures will be given by primarily international guest lecturers.
Guest lecturers will be primarily from the 22 partners and associated partners in the QuRIOUS consortium. These comprise top European universities and metrological institutes as well as leading Laser manufacturing and quantum technology supply chain companies.
Dates
7 – 11 December 2026
Course location
Niels Bohr Institutet, Nørre Campus
Registration deadline
1 September 2026
Course fee and participant fee
PhD courses offered at the Faculty of SCIENCE have course fees corresponding to different participant types.
In addition to the course fee, there might also be a participant fee.
If the course has a participant fee, this will apply to all participants regardless of participant
type - and in addition to the course fee.
Course fee
• Participant fee: DKK 0
• PhD student enrolled at SCIENCE: DKK 0
• PhD student from Danish PhD school Open market: DKK 0
• PhD student from Danish PhD school not Open market: DKK 2.400
• PhD student from foreign university: DKK 2.400
• Master's student from Danish university: DKK 0
• Master's student from foreign university: DKK 2.400
• Non-PhD student employed at a university (e.g., postdocs): DKK 2.400
• Non-PhD student not employed at a university (e.g., from a private company): DKK 6.720
Cancellation policy
Cancellations made up to two weeks before the course starts are free of charge.
Cancellations made less than two weeks before the course starts will be charged a fee of DKK 3.000
Participants with less than 80% attendance cannot pass the course and will be charged a fee of DKK 5.000
No-show will result in a fee of DKK 5.000
Participants who fail to hand in any mandatory exams or assignments cannot pass the course and will be charged a fee of DKK 5.000