German Aerospace Center (DLR) Internship - Institute for Quantum Technologies

Over the past three months, I had the opportunity to work on the technical realization of a photonic quantum memory as part of my internship at the German Aerospace Center (DLR). To develop such a system, we are implementing an electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) protocol in a Rubidium magneto optical trap (MOT).

A particular core aspect of this project, which is funded by the European Space Agency - ESA, is to miniaturize this quantum memory in order to deploy it on satellites - a key step towards the vision of extraterrestrial, global quantum communication. For this purpose, the actual rubidium chamber will be realized both as a classic vacuum system for initial tests as well as miniaturized in the form of a glass chamber on a silicon chip.

The timing of my internship certainly could not have been better. The theoretical conceptualization had been completed and I was able to experience the full laboratory assembly up to a Rubidium MOT, including the vacuum chamber, the cooling laser system, the rubidium dispenser, the trapping coils and the NEG pump as well as the imaging system.

After three intensive and exciting months, I can look back on my new experiences and completed projects. A selection I would like to share here:

• High Voltage Silicon-Glass-Bonding

• Assembly and evacuation of vacuum systems (incl. helium leak detection)

• Assembly and collimation of a Near-Infrared Absorption Imaging System (see photos for example image of a glass wafer with 100 nm titanium structure) 

• Documentation of the assembly of the imaging system developed by Foundation for Research and Technology - Hellas (FORTH)

• Partial automation of e-beam dose tests via Python GDS file generator

Finally, I would like to thank the entire DLR team, especially my working group consisting of Andreas Bodschwinna, Dr. Verena Velthaus, Jeffrey Appiah, Daniel Schmidt, Luis A. Mendez, Kai Zischak, Francis Pore and Jakob Holz. Special thanks also go to Dr. Jakob Buchheim, head of the department “Integration of Micro- and Nanosystems” (DLR-QT IMN), who made my internship possible and is always ready to help his team with any concerns. Finally I want to thank Dr. Matthias Zimmermann, who got me interested in the work of the DLR-QT at a DPG event and subsequently put me in touch with Jakob.

#DLR #QuantumTechnologies #QuantumMemory #Internship