Quantum Sensing Lab

Welcome to the Quantum Sensing Lab at Rutgers University, Newark, NJ!

We are an experimental atomic, molecular, and optical (AMO) physics group in the Department of Physics at Rutgers University-Newark. We use lasers to cool atoms near absolute zero and exploit the cold wavelike atoms to build interferometers. Our research focuses on advancing quantum sensing techniques for precision measurements, geoscience, civil engineering, and navigation. 

We are always looking for motivated and talented students and postdocs. If you are excited about joining the adventure, please get in touch with us at any time. Our group is committed to welcoming and supporting all members, irrespective of identity or background. We continuously work to foster a diverse and inclusive research atmosphere that cultivates innovation and creativity. We encourage women, minorities, and individuals with disabilities to consider joining our group.

We thank Rutgers-Newark, Rutgers Research Council, Rutgers Global, and the National Science Foundation (NSF) for supporting our work!

Recent News

Mar 20, 2024 Xuejian gave a seminar talk in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at Montclair State University.

Feb 21, 2024 Congratulations to Tim for passing the proposal defense!

Feb 15, 2024 We welcome Javier Sanchez to join the quantum gravimeter project for undergraduate research.

Previous Updates

Dec 8, 2023 We welcome Balthazar to join us as a graduate student in January 2024!

Nov 17, 2023 Congratulations to Shi for winning the Academic Year Fellowship from the Rutgers-NASA NJ Space Sciences Consortium!

Nov 10, 2023 Tim won the second prize in the poster competition during the Physics Graduate Open House.

Oct 30, 2023 Xuejian gave a physics seminar talk at NJIT.

Sep 30, 2023 We demonstrate the Laser Interferometer Kit at the RU-N Open House.

Aug 31, 2023 We welcome Maurice Metvier to join us as an undergraduate researcher!

Aug 30, 2023 Our lab is on this week's SASN news for kicking off two NSF projects!

Aug 15, 2023 Our lab won an NSF award for developing scalable quantum gravimeters with large-momentum-transfer atom interferometry.

July 27, 2023 We welcome Mariam to join our team as a graduate student!

Jul 10, 2023 We welcome Juan, Zara, Chloe from the Union County Magnet High School, and Jonathan from Newark Science Park High School to join us for the summer research!

Jun 23, 2023 Our lab won the first NSF award for developing simultaneous multiaxis atom interferometers for inertial sensing and navigation.

Jun 14, 2023 Congratulations to Shi and Chandelle on winning the Dean's 2023 Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship!

Jun 10, 2023 Our group won the 2023-2024 Rutgers University's Research Council Award of Individual Fulcrum Awards Program for testing diamond-shaped MOTs.

Jun 4, 2023 Tim and Guanghui will attend the APS DAMOP conference in Spokane, WA, and give poster presentations.

Jan 20, 2023 Xuejian gave a physics colloquium talk at McGill University.

Dec 3, 2022 Tim, Guanghui, and Jose attended the APS Mid-Atlantic Meeting at Penn State University in State College, PA.

Nov 10, 2022 Our department will have two open houses on 11/11 (in-person) and 11/14 (virtual) for prospective graduate students.

Oct 13, 2022 Xuejian gave an invited talk at The 6th International Workshop on Quantum Coherence, Information, and Computing at Stevens Institute of Technology.

Oct 8, 2022 Tim showed the laser interferometer demo at the Rutgers-Newark Open House.

Jul 1, 2022 Welcome Hanbo from USTC to join the nanofiber project as a visiting undergraduate!

Jun 27, 2022 Welcome Alek, Juan, and Antonio from the Union County Magnet High School to join our research projects this summer!

May 11, 2022 Congratulations to Nami on her graduation, and best wishes for her next adventure!

Apr 22, 2022 Our lab won the Core Facility Utilization Grants sponsored by the Rutgers Office for Research. With this support, we will use the Scanning Electron Microscope to measure the fabricated optical nanofibers.

Apr 19, 2022 Congratulations to Tim for winning the Research Week's Poster Showcase prize!

Apr 14, 2022 Come and Join our first Research Happy Hour organized by the Optica Student Chapter at Rutgers!

Apr 10, 2022 Xuejian gave a viral lab tour during the Research Week Lab Showcase.

Mar 4, 2022 The Conversation features Xuejian's article for Women's History Month!

Jan 19, 2022 Xuejian was selected as a 2021 Outstanding Reviewer by the IEEE Transactions on Instrumentation and Measurement.

Dec 22, 2021 Our quantum inertial sensor project was covered in the SASN News and Rutgers Research.

Sep 5, 2021 Xuejian serves as a co-chair at Session 4: Quantum Optics and Information in the 2021 IEEE the 6th Optoelectronics Global Conference.

Sep 1, 2021 Welcome, Guanghui! Guanghui is a new graduate student joining us this fall!

Jun 3, 2021 Our Q-IMU project is funded by the Rutgers Global International Collaborative Research Grant. We will work with Dr. Malo Cadoret at Conservatoire National des Arts et Métiers, France to build quantum inertial sensors for navigation.

Jun 2, 2021 Congratulations to Nami and Bibek! Nami is recognized by the Dean's 2021 Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship. Bibek is supported by the GSN Summer Undergraduate Research Institute Program.

May 25, 2021 Welcome Nami and Bibek joining us for undergraduate summer research!

May 17, 2021 Xuejian wrote an article on The Conversation to answer a question from a curious kid about controllably harvesting energies.

Apr 20, 2021 Xuejian gave a viral lab tour during the Research Week Lab Showcase.

Apr 1, 2021 Congratulations to Tim on the Rutgers Presidential Fellowship!

Mar 24, 2021 Xuejian serves as an academic editor in PLOS One, a peer-reviewed open-access scientific journal.

Mar 19, 2021 Xuejian is recognized as an Outstanding Reviewer of 2020 by IEEE Transactions on Instrumentation and Measurement!

Feb 28, 2021 Welcome Guanghui Su from the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) joining us this Fall as a graduate student!

Feb 14, 2021 Our group has an immediate PhD student position for Fall 2021. Please contact us for more information!

Feb 10, 2021 Xuejian wrote an article on The Conversation about Chien-Shiung Wu, a female nuclear physicist, honored on a U.S. postage stamp.

Oct 19, 2020 Xuejian serves as a Social Media Officer for OSA Quantum Optical Science and Technology Technical Group.

Oct 16, 2020 Xuejian gave a Compass Lecture for undergraduates in the physical sciences. 

Sep 16, 2020 Xuejian presented a 20x20 talk at OSA Frontiers in Optics/Quantum 2.0 Conference 2020. 

Aug 23, 2020 Welcome Dee and Tim joining the group as the first PhD students!

Jun 28, 2020 Welcome to the Quantum Sensing Lab at Rutgers-Newark! We are inviting PhD/Master students to enroll in January or August 2021.